Glucose is the most common and familiar monosaccharide, also known as glucose or blood sugar, and it is one of the most abundant compounds in nature. In nature, it is synthesized by water and carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Because it was originally a crystal separated from grape juice, it was named "glucose". Glucose exists in human plasma and lymph. The content of glucose in normal blood can reach 0.08% ~ 0. 1%.

Glucose can be oxidized into carbon dioxide and water by oxygen in human body, and this reaction releases a certain amount of heat. When each gram of glucose is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water, it releases the heat of 17. 1KJ, and 50% of the energy needed by humans and animals comes from glucose.

Glucose is an important industrial raw material, its sweetness is about 3/4 of sucrose, and it is mainly used in food industry, such as the production of bread, candy, cakes and drinks. In medical treatment, glucose is widely used in patients' infusion, because glucose is easily absorbed directly and can be used as a nutritional product for patients. Glucose can produce gluconic acid when it is oxidized, and calcium gluconate is a drug that can effectively provide calcium ions. Hexanediol can be produced when glucose is reduced, which is the raw material for synthesizing vitamin C.