D-Galactose
Identifiers
CAS number	59-23-4
PubChem	439357
KEGG	D04291
MeSH	Galactose
ChEBI	CHEBI:28061
SMILES	O[C@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@H](O[C@H](O)[C@@H]1O)CO
InChI InChI=1/C6H12O6/c7-1-2-3(8)4(9)5(10)6(11)12-2/h2-11H,1H2/t2−,3+,4+,5−,6+/m1/s1
Properties
Molecular formula	C6H12O6
Molar mass	180.12 g mol-1
Appearance	White solid
Odor	Odorless
Density	1.5 g/cm3
Melting point	168-170 °C, 271 K, -106 °F
Solubility in water	650 g/L (20 °C)
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	-103.00·10−6 cm3/mol
Pharmacology
ATC code
Hazards
NFPA 704	0 1 0
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

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

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. view more...