Uronic acid (source code)

= Uronic acid

A <uronic acid> is a <monosaccharide> derivative in which the terminal primary alcohol group opposite the potential <aldehyde> group has become a <carboxyl group>. The reference numbering of the original <aldose> is retained: carbon 1 remains the potential aldehyde carbon, rather than becoming the number assigned to the new <carboxyl group>.<Nomenclature of Carbohydrates (Recommendations 1996) by Alan D. McNaught>[Section 2-Carb-22.1: uronic-acid structures, names and numbering]{ref}

For <glucose>, the relevant terminal group is at carbon 6. Replacing its $\mathrm{CH_2OH}$ reference group by $\mathrm{COOH}$ gives <glucuronic acid>, while preserving the arrangement at the intervening <stereocenters>. This distinguishes the position of a modification from the mere presence of a <carboxyl group>. <Glucuronic acid> supplies one of the two alternating sugar residues in <hyaluronic acid>, connecting the chemical classification with a biological <polysaccharide>.