INTRODUCTION

Carbohydrates or saccharides are the most abundant class of biomolecules.

Carbohydrates are used to store energy, though they serve other important functions as well. This
is an overview of carbohydrate chemistry, including a look at the types of carbohydrates, their
functions, and carbohydrate classification.
Carbohydrates are a common class of simple organic compounds. A carbohydrate is an
aldehyde or a ketone that has additional hydroxyl groups. The simplest carbohydrates are called
monosaccharaides, which has the basic structure (CH2O)n, where n is three or greater.
Monosaccharaides link together to form oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Two
monosaccharaides link together to form a disaccharide.
Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrate molecules composed of long chains
of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic bonds. They range in structure from linear
to highly branch. Examples include storage polysaccharides such as starch and glycogen, and
structural.
Oxidation-reduction reactions are chemical processes that create energy, defined by the
loss or gain of electrons in molecules. Oxidation occurs when a molecule loses one or more
electrons, and reduction is when the molecule gains one or more electrons. This process is
important in maintaining human life by creating an energy source for the body. This process
requires a catalyst, called a reducing agent or oxidizing agent. Some types of sugars, or
carbohydrates, are reducing agents. A reducing sugar contains aldehyde or ketone in its
molecular structure.

Apparatus/Materials

Controlled water bath at 100 C

Medicine droppers
Boiling chips
Benedicts reagent
3 M NaOH
1% starch solution
1% sucrose
1% fructose
1% lactose
1% glucose
3 M H2SO4
0.01 M iodine in KI
Test tubes
Test tube rack
0.1 M glucose
Pipette
100 g sodium carbonate
173 g of sodium citrate
filter paper
measuring cylinder
copper sulphate

PROCEDURE
Refer to BCHM 120 Lab Manual, Lab# 2, Qualitative Test for Carbohydrates, pages 2-3

PRECAUTIONS

EXPECTED RESULTS/ OBSERVATIONS/DATA

A positive outcome to the benedict test will show from light blue to green to orange then cherry
red. A negative outcome to the benedict test will show no colour precipitation formed.
A green, red, yellow/ orange will show a positive result for sensitivity to benedict test. A
negative outcome will have no colour precipitation formed.

RESULTS/OBSERVATIONS/DATA
TABLE 1 SHOWING THE RESULTS FOR IDENTIFYING REDUCING SUGARS

TABLE 2 SHOWING RESULTS FOR SENSITIVITY OF REDUCING SUGARS

POST LAB QUESTION

1. From part A, name the sugar/s that does not test positive with the Benedicts solution.
Explain why.
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2. From part B, estimate the threshold concentration of glucose required to give a positive
Benedicts test.
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3. . Draw the structure of lactose and circle the part of this molecule that takes part in the
redox reaction with the Benedicts solution.

4. Before the introduction of urine dipsticks, it was common laboratory practice to assess
urine glucose concentration by performing the Benedicts test on urine samples.

a. What should be the normal glucose level found in the urine of healthy persons
(mg/dl)
b. Give two (2) reasons why glucose may be present in the urine of some persons.
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DISCUSSION
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SOURCE OF ERROR/ASSUMPTION
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CONCLUSION
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REFRENCE