Carbohydrates which differ in configuration at the glycosidic carbon(i.e, C 1 in aldoses and C 2 in ketoses) are called anomers. α - D - + - glucose and β - D + glucose are anomers. Therefore, anomers are the pairs of optical isomers ( α -form and β -form) that differ in the configuration only around C 1 atom. These two cyclic forms exist in equilibrium with an open-chain structure. Fig- Amomers of glucose

What are reducing sugars?

Reducing sugars- The saccharides which reduce Fehling's solution and Tollen's reagent are called reducing sugars. It contains a group that can easily oxides the above reagents. All monosaccharides whether aldose or ketose are reducing sugars. It contains either α -hydroxy aldehyde or α -hydroxy ketones. They have cyclic hemiacetal or hemiketal or structure in equilibrium with open chain forming CHO or C = O group. These are capable of acting as reducing agent because it has a free aldehyde group or a free ketone group. For example- Maltose, galactose, glucose, and lactose