Ribose is a monosaccharide with five carbons. It is called D-ribose. Ribose was discovered by scientist Emil Fisher in 1891. Its molecular symbol is C5H10O5. Its melting point is 95 degrees Celsius. It is a reducing sugar. It is called aldopentose sugar as it contains aldehyde group. Capable of ribose oxidation. It reacts with Hcl to produce furfuric acid. Ribose acts as the building block of RNA. A purine or pyrimidine base combines with ribose to form a nucleoside. Nucleosides combine with inorganic phosphates to form nucleotides. Nucleotides are then combined to form RNA. Ribose helps in the formation of sugars in the photophosphorylation process. Ribose is attached to biomolecules like ATP, NAD+, NADP+, FAD, Co-A etc. Dr. Siddiq Publications