Final answer:
Dexanhydrous glucose or dextrose is pure glucose in its anhydrous form, lacking water content, while pure glucose may contain water molecules. Both terms often refer to the same substance. The term dextrose is commonly used in medical settings, and molecular weights can differentiate glucose from other similar carbohydrates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dexanhydrous glucose, commonly referred to as dextrose, is the name given to the anhydrous form of glucose. It is essentially pure glucose but without water (anhydrous). On the other hand, pure glucose may often refer to glucose in its hydrated form, which could contain water molecules. Practically, both terms may refer to the same glucose substance, just in different states regarding water content.
The term dextrose is often used in medical settings to denote the biologically active isomer of glucose. This term is interchangeable with glucose but is specifically highlighting its role within biological systems.
To identify glucose among other carbohydrates such as sucrose, the determination of molecular weights can be informative. This is because glucose, as a monosaccharide, has a distinct molecular weight compared to disaccharides like sucrose, even though both have similar empirical formulas.