How would you test for the presence of a non-reducing sugar?

We can check for the presence of non-reducing sugars the Benedick's Test. If a reducing sugar is present in a solution, adding Benedick's reagent and heating will form an insoluble red precipitate. Non-reducing sugars do not change the colour of the solution, which is blue, and so we have to break the sugar down to monosaccharides by hydrolysis to prove they're non-reducing. So, when the Benedick's test gives a negative result, add dilute hydrochloric acid and put this in a water bath; this will hydrolise the bonds between the disaccharides. Hydrogen carbonate is then added to neutralise the solution as Benedick's reagent doesn't work under acidic conditions. Re-do the Benedick's test- if a non-reducing sugar was present, the solution will now produce a red precipitate, if no no reducing or non-reducing sugars were present, the solution will remain blue.

JO
Answered by Jess O. Biology tutor

109889 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain the process of phagocytosis


What is a niche?


How does an action potential travel between two neurones?


How are action potentials propagated across cholinergic synapses?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning