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Biology AS CIE

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  1. 1-cell-structure
    10 主题
  2. 2-biological-molecules
    19 主题
  3. 3-enzymes
    13 主题
  4. 4-cell-membranes-and-transport
    16 主题
  5. 5-the-mitotic-cell-cycle
    8 主题
  6. 6-nucleic-acids-and-protein-synthesis
    9 主题
  7. 7-transport-in-plants
    11 主题
  8. 8-transport-in-mammals
    16 主题
  9. 9-gas-exchange
    6 主题
  10. 10-infectious-diseases
    6 主题
  11. 11-immunity
    10 主题
课 2, 主题 17
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2-1-testing-for-biological-molecules AS testing-for-non-reducing-sugars

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Exam code:9700

Testing for non-reducing sugars

  • Sugars can be classified as reducing or non-reducing; this classification is dependent on their ability to donate electrons (a reducing sugar that is able to donate electrons is itself oxidised)

    • Remember “OILRIG” in Chemistry

  • If Benedict’s test has been carried out on a solution and it shows that no reducing sugars are present, a modified version of the test can be carried out to test for the presence of non-reducing sugars

To test for non-reducing sugars:

  • Add dilute hydrochloric acid to the sample and heat in a water bath that has been brought to the boil

  • Neutralise the solution with sodium hydrogencarbonate

    • Use a suitable indicator (such as red litmus paper) to identify when the solution has been neutralised

    • Then add a little more sodium hydrogencarbonate as the conditions need to be slightly alkaline for the Benedict’s test to work

  • Then carry out Benedict’s test as normal

    • Add Benedict’s reagent to the sample and heat in a water bath that has been boiled

    • If a colour change occurs (orange-red precipitate), a non-reducing sugar is present

Explanation

  • The addition of acid will hydrolyse any glycosidic bonds present in any carbohydrate molecules

  • The resulting monosaccharides left will have an aldehyde or ketone functional group that can donate electrons to copper (II) sulfate (reducing the copper)

    • This allows a precipitate to form

Reducing Sugars

Non-Reducing Sugars

Galactose

Sucrose (the only one you need to know)

Glucose

Fructose

Maltose

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Always do a Benedict’s test before the acid hydrolysis step to show that no reducing sugars were present initially.

You might be expected to explain that this proves any positive result after the acid treatment is due to non-reducing sugars being broken down into reducing sugars (e.g. sucrose → glucose + fructose).

Skipping this first test would make the result inconclusive.

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