Title: Understanding the Relationship Between Alpha and Beta Forms of SugarsQuestion: Alpha and beta forms of sugars are related as?Options:- identical- meso (selected)- diastereomers- enantiomersExplanation: In carbohydrate chemistry, the alpha and beta forms of sugars refer to different anomeric configurations that are based on the orientation of the hydroxyl group at the anomeric carbon. These forms are typically classified as diastereomers, which are stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other. The selected option, "meso," is incorrect, as meso compounds have internal planes of symmetry and do not apply to the alpha and beta configurations of sugars.

Sugars exhibit different degrees of stereoisomerism like enantiomers, diastereomers, epimers, mesomeres etc. Diastereomers are defined as non-mirror and non-identical mirror images of each other. Third option is correct because alpha and beta forms of sugars are anomers which are cyclic monosaccharides or glycosides that are epimers, differing from each other in the configuration of C-1 if they are aldoses or in configuration at C-2 if they are ketoses. And anomers are diastereomers of cyclic forms of sugar or similar molecules differing in the configuration at anomeric carbon. First option is incorrect because alpha and beta forms of carbon are not identical but differ at anomeric carbon. Second option is incorrect because mesomers are chiral compounds that have plane of symmetry and alpha and beta forms of sugar do not have plane of symmetry. Fourth option is incorrect because enantiomers are chiral molecules that are mirror image of each other but alpha and beta forms of sugar are not mirror image of each other. Hence, Third option is correct because alpha and beta forms of sugar are diastereomers.