Final answer:
A Fischer projection is a two-dimensional representation of a molecule, used to show the configuration of chiral centers. In a Fischer projection of D-glucose, the hydroxyl group on the fifth carbon atom is on the right, indicating it is a D sugar.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a Fischer projection, the chiral center is in the plane of the page, with horizontal lines representing bonds projecting towards the viewer, and vertical lines representing bonds projecting away from the viewer. To describe a Fischer projection with the hydroxyl group located to the right of the aldehyde functional group, we can look at the example of D-glucose.
In the Fischer projection of D-glucose, the hydroxyl group on the fifth carbon atom (the chiral center farthest from the carbonyl group) is on the right, indicating that glucose is a D sugar. So therefore a Fischer projection is a two-dimensional representation of a molecule, commonly used to show the configuration of chiral centers.