How Does The Benedict’s Test For Reducing Sugars Work?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In lab, we used Benedict’s reagent to test for one particular reducing sugar: glucose. Benedict’s reagent starts out aqua-blue. As

it is heated in the presence of reducing sugars, it turns yellow to orange

. The “hotter” the final color of the reagent, the higher the concentration of reducing sugar.

What does the Benedict’s test detect?

Generally, Benedict’s test detects the presence of

aldehydes, alpha-hydroxy-ketones, and hemiacetals

, including those that occur in certain ketoses.

How do you test for reducing sugars?


Fehling Test

If the reducing sugar is present the color of the solution will be changed to a red precipitate color resembling rust. Fehling’s solution is made by mixing equal amounts of aqueous solutions of copper II sulfate pentahydrate and potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate.

What Colour does sugar go when Benedict’s solution?

We can use a special reagent called Benedict’s solution to test for simple carbohydrates like glucose. Benedict’s solution is

blue

but, if simple carbohydrates are present, it will change colour – green/yellow if the amount is low and red if it is high.

How do you perform a Benedict Test?

How to perform the test: One ml of a sample solution is placed in a test tube. Two ml of Benedict’s reagent (a solution of sodium citrate and sodium carbonate mixed with a solution of copper sulfate) is added. The solution is

then heated in a boiling water bath for three minutes

.

What color is positive for Benedict’s test?

Interpreting Benedict’s Reagent Results

In general, blue to blue-green or yellow-green is negative,

yellowish to bright yellow is

a moderate positive, and bright orange is a very strong positive. (See below).

Why is glucose positive in Benedict’s test?

Benedict’s test is a chemical test that can be used to check for the presence of reducing sugars in a given analyte. … Since this test detects any aldehydes and α-hydroxy ketones and glucose is an aldose whose open-chain forms an aldehyde group, the test yields a positive result

when glucose is present in the analyte

.

What are examples of non reducing sugars?

  • Sucrose.
  • Trehalose.
  • Raffinose.
  • Stachyose.
  • Verbascose.

Why Ketoses are reducing sugars?

A ketose is a monosaccharide containing one ketone group per molecule. … All monosaccharide ketoses are reducing sugars, because

they can tautomerize into aldoses via an enediol intermediate, and the resulting aldehyde group can be oxidised

, for example in the Tollens’ test or Benedict’s test.

What is the function of reducing sugar?

What is Reducing Sugar? Reducing sugars

aid in browning by reacting with proteins during baking

. They are carbohydrates containing a terminal aldehyde or ketone group which can undergo oxidation reactions.

What colour does Benedict’s solution turn when sugar is not present?

Test for sugars

Reducing sugars give a red/brown precipitate with Benedict’s solution. The precipitate takes a while to settle in the tube. The colour you’ll see is likely to be simply red or brown. If there’s not much glucose present, the final colour may be

green or yellow

, or orange if there’s a little more.

How do you use Benedict’s solution?


Add 10 drops of Benedict’s solution to each test tube

. Carefully heat the test tubes by suspending in a hot water bath at about 40-50 degrees celsius for five minutes. Note any color change. If sugar is present solution will turn green, yellow, or brick-red, depending on sugar concentration.

Why is there only 8 drops of urine in Benedict’s test?

Add 8 drops (0.5 ml) of urine. … The contents of the

tube becomes turbid due to a precipitate

, which may range from green to brick red in colour, depending on the amount of sugar present in the urine. If no sugar is present, the solution will remain clear or show a faint turbidity.

Which sugar gives positive Benedict’s test?

The reducing sugars that show positive results with benedict’s solution are

glucose, fructose, maltose

etc. The correct option is D i.e. sucrose. Additional Information: Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of two monosaccharide molecules that are glucose and fructose.

What happens in Fehling’s test?

Fehling’s solution can be used to distinguish

aldehyde vs ketone functional groups

. The compound to be tested is added to the Fehling’s solution and the mixture is heated. Aldehydes are oxidized, giving a positive result, but ketones do not react, unless they are α-hydroxy ketones.

Why does the Benedict’s test have to be done in alkaline conditions?

Formation of red coloured copper(I) oxide indicates the formation of a precipitate. This precipitate is insoluble in water. As Benedict’s test continues,

the concentration of reducing sugar increases

. … Sodium carbonate of Benedict’s reagent facilitates the alkaline conditions which are required for the redox reaction.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.