Gluconic acid is the carboxylic acid formed by the oxidation of the first carbon of glucose and has the chemical formula C₆H₁₂O₇. When dissolved in water, it forms the gluconate ion C₆H₁₁O₇⁻; the salts of gluconic acid are also known as gluconates.

Chemical structure

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The chemical structure of gluconic acid consists of a six-carbon chain with five hydroxyl groups terminating in a carboxyl group. This latter group can lose a hydrogen ion and thus turns the molecule into an acid. The IUPAC name of gluconic acid is 2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanoic acid.

Glucono delta lactone is a cyclic ester of D-gluconic acid.

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