Galactose

Galactose (from the Greek stem γάλακτ– galakt–, "milk") is a sugar. It has almost the same chemical structure as glucose.

D-Galactose

Identifiers
CAS Number	59-23-4 N
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:28061 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL300520 N
ChemSpider	388480 Y
IUPHAR/BPS	4646
KEGG	D04291 N
MeSH	Galactose
PubChem CID	439357
UNII	X2RN3Q8DNE Y
SMILES O[C@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@H](O[C@H](O)[C@@H]1O)CO
Properties
Chemical formula	C6H12O6
Molar mass	180.16 g·mol−1
Appearance	White solid[1]
Odor	Odorless[1]
Density	1.5 g/cm3[1]
Melting point	168–170 °C (334–338 °F; 441–443 K)[1]
Solubility in water	650 g/L (20 °C)[1]
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	-103.00·10−6 cm3/mol
Pharmacology
ATC code	V04CE01 (WHO) V08DA02 (WHO) (microparticles)
Hazards
NFPA 704	0 1 0
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Large amounts of pure galactose do not exist in nature. Instead, galactose is usually found with glucose in lactose, a sugar found in milk and other milk products. After lactose is digested and absorbed, galactose arrives in the liver. There it is changed into either glucose or glycogen.