Final answer:
The most often used agent for the complete oxidation of carbohydrates is nitric acid, which converts primary alcohol groups in carbohydrates to saccharic acids. While mild oxidizing agents only affect the aldehydic group, nitric acid ensures a full transformation of the carbohydrate molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
Complete Oxidation of Carbohydrates
The agent most often used for the complete oxidation of a carbohydrate is a strong oxidizing agent such as nitric acid (HNO3). Strong oxidizing agents like nitric acid can oxidize the primary alcohol groups in carbohydrates to form saccharic acids. This process is different from the oxidation by mild oxidizing agents such as bromine, which tend to oxidize the aldehydic group to an acid group, thereby converting a carbohydrate into a reducing sugar, which is capable of reducing the oxidizing agent.
Reducing sugars, like D-glucose, can react with mild oxidizing agents under alkaline conditions to form aldonic acids. However, for complete oxidation, which transforms the entire carbohydrate molecule, strong oxidizing agents are necessary. One example of carbohydrate metabolism involving oxidation in living organisms is the oxidation of the secondary alcohol group in isocitric acid to a ketone group through enzyme-controlled reactions.
Auxiliary oxidizing agents, such as ammonium peroxydisulfate and hydrogen peroxide, may also be used in certain oxidation reactions, but for the complete oxidation of carbohydrates specifically, nitric acid is the most commonly employed.