Mild Oxidation with Bromine Water ($$\text{Br}_2 / \text{H}_2\text{O}$$)

$$\text{HOCH}_2(\text{CHOH})_4\text{CHO} + [\text{O}] \xrightarrow{\text{Br}_2 / \text{H}_2\text{O}} \text{HOCH}_2(\text{CHOH})_4\text{COOH}$$

$$\text{Glucose} + \text{Br}_2/\text{H}_2\text{O} \to \text{Gluconic Acid}$$

Concept: Bromine water ($$\text{Br}_2 / \text{H}_2\text{O}$$) acts as a mild oxidizing agent that selectively oxidizes the aldehyde group ($$\text{--CHO}$$) of glucose into a carboxylic acid group ($$\text{--COOH}$$), forming gluconic acid. Because bromine water is a mild reagent, it does not affect or oxidize the primary ($$1^\circ$$) or secondary ($$2^\circ$$) alcohol hydroxyl groups ($$\text{--OH}$$).