Biology: Biochemical Tests for Molecules

Reducing Sugars (all monosaccharide and some disaccharides)

Benedict’s Test

Add Benedict’s solution (which is blue) and heat. If the test is positive it will form a coloured precipitate. The higher the concentration of the reducing sugar, the further the colour change (blue-green-yellow-orange-red)

Non-Reducing Sugars

Benedict’s Test

You would have to break it down into monosaccharide elements. To do this you boil it with dilute hydrochloric acid, and then neutralise it with sodium hydrogencarbonate. Then you would carry out the Benedict’s test. If…