Benedict’s Test for Reducing Sugar

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BENEDICT’S TEST – REDUCING SUGARS
Benedict’s test for reducing sugar results in colour changes from blue to green precipitate and lastly forms brick-red precipitate. In this case, Benedict’s solution which is aqueous solution of copper (II) sulphate, sodium carbonate and sodium citrate, used as a test of the presence of reducing sugar. Glucose is one of the reducing sugars. Functional group of aldehyde (CHO) and keto (C=O) are found in glucose. Benedict’s test will detect on functional group of aldehyde and keto. As glucose has this functional group, the Benedict’s test shows positive results by changing the colour of Benedict’s reagent from blue colour to green then to brick red precipitate. Therefore this test is semi quantitative. This is due Benedict’s reagent reduces copper (II) sulphate forming a precipitate of copper (I) oxide upon heating. Blue colour means no reducing sugar, green precipitate represents less sugar and brick red precipitate means more sugars form. Hence, intensity of colour indicates amount of sugar.
Cu2+ (blue) ...

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