When L-(+) -lyxose is treated with nitric acid, which of the following results?

A) a racemic mixture of aldaric acids
B) an optically active aldaric acid
C) an optically inactive aldaric acid
D) an optically active aldonic acid
E) an optically inactive aldonic acid

When L-(+)-lyxose is treated with nitric acid, it undergoes oxidation to form an aldaric acid. Since the starting material is optically active, the product remains optically active as well, thus forming an optically active aldaric acid. Nitric acid oxidation of sugars typically targets the aldehyde group (to form a carboxylic acid at one end) and the primary alcohol group (to form another carboxylic acid at the other end), resulting in an aldaric acid. The stereochemistry of the original sugar influences the optical activity of the product.