Q.What is meant by the term 'anomeric carbon'? Using $\alpha$-D-glucose and $\beta$-D-glucose as your example, explain what an anomer is.

When glucose's open chain cyclises, the C5 hydroxyl group attacks the C1 aldehyde carbon. In the open chain, C1 was a planar, non-chiral $\text{sp}^2$ carbon (part of the $-\text{CHO}$ group); after cyclisation, C1 becomes a new $\text{sp}^3$ stereocentre bearing an $-\text{OH}$ group, because the attacking oxygen can approach from either face of the original planar carbonyl. This newly created stereocentre is called the anomeric carbon. …

Identify which carbon becomes a new stereocentre on ring closure (the one that was the carbonyl carbon in the open chain) -- that is the anomeric carbon; anomers …

Confusing 'anomers' with general 'stereoisomers' -- anomers specifically differ at only the one anomeric carbon, n …