Choose the Term That Correctly Describes the Relationship Between These

Question

Choose the term that correctly describes the relationship between these two sugar molecules:

A) structural isomers 
B) cis-trans isomers 
C) enantiomers 
D) isotopes

Accepted Answer

Structural isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but different bonding arrangement of their atoms. The two sugar molecules may have the same chemical makeup, but the arrangement of the atoms in the molecule is different, making them structural isomers. They are not cis-trans isomers since those specifically refer to isomers with double bonds and different groups or atoms on each side. They are not enantiomers since enantiomers are mirror images of each other, and these two sugars are not non-superimposable mirror images. They are definitely not isotopes since isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei.