if someone could help with this question
Sugars such as glucose and fructose cannot be eluted and separated by gas chromatography. Briefly explain why they can be eluted and separated by gas chromatography after functionalization to their acetate derivatives.

You have to acetylate sugars before analysis by gas chromatography to increase their volatility so that they actually elute from the GC column instead of being stuck inside it. It has the bonus effect of preventing sugars from decomposing in the high temperature conditions of the GC machine. Note that GC was removed from the VCE chem course in 2017.

Hi, I've reassigned the tags on this from "General" to uni subjects since I believe you are trying to clarify chemistry content you have come across in higher education. If I'm mistaken feel free to let me know.

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