Final answer:
An aldose sugar has a carbonyl group at the end of its carbon chain, while a ketose sugar has this group in the middle. This structural variation corresponds to aldehydes in aldoses and ketones in ketoses, with examples including glucose for aldoses and fructose for ketoses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between an aldose sugar and a ketose sugar lies in the position of the carbonyl group within their molecular structure. Aldoses have a carbonyl group at the end of the carbon chain, making them aldehydic, while ketoses have a carbonyl group in the middle of the carbon chain, making them ketonic. Examples of aldoses include glucose, galactose, and ribose; whereas ketose examples include fructose and dihydroxyacetone.
In an aldose, the carbonyl group is bonded to at least one hydrogen atom, which is typical of aldehydes. In ketoses, the carbonyl group is bonded to two carbon atoms, which is characteristic of ketones. This structural difference is crucial in the classification and function of these sugars within biological systems.