Hi Anna,

Hexose refers to the fact that a sugar has 6 carbons.

Pyranose is very specific, and refers to the fact that a cyclic sugar makes a pyran ring, which is 5 C and one O connected by an acetal linkage in a ring.

For example, pyranoses can be 6,7,8 or more carbons theoretically, as long as they close up into that particular ring.

In contrast, hexoses can be furanoses (fructose forms a 5 member ring but is a hexose) or pyranoses (ie glucose).

Please let me know if this is unclear.

Katt