INTRODUCTION

Disaccharides and polysaccharides can be hydrolyzed (broken down), given sufficient

time, into their constituent monosaccharides. In the laboratory hydrolysis can be achieved by
reacting the di- and poly- saccharides with acid. Acid hydrolysis of disaccharides will produce
the constituent monosaccharides. Acid hydrolysis of polysaccharides will first produce smaller
polysaccharides and disaccharides, but eventually, given sufficient time, will produce the
constituent monosaccharides. In our bodies the hydrolysis of polysaccharides (except cellulose)
is carried out by enzymes that are found in our saliva or secreted from our pancreas.

Hydrolysis of starch progresses in several stages with a-D-glucose as the final product.
Starch gives an intense, brilliant blue-black color with iodine, whereas, intermediate products of
hydrolysis called dextrins give red to red-brown color. As hydrolysis proceeds, the products give
no color with iodine.

PROCEDURE

The experiment was divided into two parts which are the Hydrolysis of Sucrose and
Hydrolysis of Starch. Meanwhile, the second part has two subtopics namely, Acid hydrolysis and
enzymatic hydrolysis.

I. Hydrolysis of Sucrose
This experiment required two test tubes. Both test tubes are required to have 2 ml
each of 10% sucrose. However, for the test tube 1 is where the group placed 2 ml 3M of
HCl while on the test tube 2 is where the group placed 2 ml of distilled water. After this,
both test tubes were placed in a beaker of boiling water bath for five minutes. Thus, the
heated tubes were cooled into a room temperature. Moreover, the group divide the
contents of each tube into two tubes labeled 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B. To those labeled A, the
group added 2 ml of Benedict’s reagent. Hence, since there is no Seliwanoff’s reagent
available the group skipped B and placed all A tubes in a boiling water bath for five
minutes. Thereafter, the group recorded the observations.

DATA AND RESULTS

I.Hydrolysis of Sucrose
Test Additions Benedict’s
Tube

1 HCl Remained clear white without Benedict's reagent; it turned light brown
with scarlet precipitate at the bottom

2 water (light brown liquid)

Turned vibrant blue after approximately 30 seconds of heating; turned
brown liquid with scarlet formation at the bottom
Table 1. Observation for Hydrolysis of Sucrose
Discussion of Results

The first part of the experiment revolves around hydrolysis of Sucrose. The dependent
variable in this experiment is the 2 ml 10% Sucrose placed in the two test tubes while the
independent variable is the 2 ml of 3M Hydrochloric Acid as well as the 2 ml distilled water. This
means that acid and neutral were used in the experiment in order to determine whether there is
a difference in the reactions. To elaborate, Hydrochloric Acid was used because its hydronium
ions can break the glycosidic link in sucrose (Shebel , 2016). Meanwhile, distilled water was also
used because it also has hydrogen which can likewise break the glycosidic link.

In order to hasten the rates of experimental parameters, both tubes were placed in boiling
water bath for five minutes. After this, both test tubes were cooled; then, 2 ml of Benedict’s reagent
were added. Observations are written below.

Test Additions Benedict’s

Tube

1A HCl Remained clear white without Benedict's reagent; turned light brown
with scarlet precipitate at the bottom after adding Benedict’s reagent.

2A water Turned vibrant blue after approximately 30 seconds of heating; turned

orange liquid with scarlet formation at the bottom after adding Benedict’s
reagent.
Table 1. Observation for Hydrolysis of Sucrose

Table 1 shows the observations done after heating the test tubes containing the solutions
as well as the reactions of the solutions after adding Benedict’s reagent.

Figure 1. After Heating, Before Benedict’s Figure 2. After Adding Benedict’s

Reagent Reagent
For Test Tube 1A which contains 2 ml 10% Sucrose and 2 ml of 3M Hydrochloric Acid,
the liquid remained clear after heating. For Test Tube 2A, it was observed that the liquid became
vibrant blue after heating. The reaction was observed immediately where sucrose was broken
down to molecules of fructose and glucose. This can be pointed to the high amount of hydronium
present in distilled water (Ron, 2014). Observations on Table 1 also suggests that the change of
color occurred approximately 30 seconds after placing Test Tube 2A in the boiling water bath.

Meanwhile, Test Tube 1A turned light brown with scarlet precipitate at the bottom while
Test Tube 2A turned to orange liquid with scarlet formation at the bottom after adding Benedict’s
reagent as shown in Figure 2. The change in color indicates high amount of presence of glucose
in the solution. This happened because Benedict's reagent is made from anhydrous sodium
carbonate, sodium citrate and copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate. Once the Benedict’s reagent is
added to the test solution, reducing sugars reduce the blue copper sulphate from the Benedict's
solution to a red brown copper sulphide (Kelly, 2018). This is is seen as the precipitate is formed,
and chemical reactions such as color change occurred as shown in Figure 2.