Qualitative Analysis of Carbohydrates||

Christopher M. Galindo
Department of Chemistry, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona,
Pomona, California 91768

E-mail: cgalindo@csupomona.edu
Phone: +1 (909) 519 4669 Fax: +1 (909) 627-5692
Dates of Completion: Thursday, November 13, 2014 and Thursday, November 20, 2014
____________________________________
The two unknown solids can be any of the
following: arabinose, ribose, glucose,
fructose, galactose, mannose, maltose,
lactose, sucrose, or starch.
|| The tests performed can include any of the
following: galactaric acid test, barfoeds
test, benedicts test, seliwanoffs test, bials
orcinol test, starch iodine test, and glucose
oxidase test.

1
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

TABLE OF RESULTS

Unknown
No.
I420c
I420c
I420c
I420c
I420c
I420c

Test*
Barfoeds Test
Benedicts Test
Bials Orcinol Test
Glucose Oxidase Test
Seliwanoffs Test
Galactaric Acid Test

Observation
Red precipitate within 30 seconds
Red precipitate within 25 seconds
Brown opaque solution
Blue/green color change on dipstick
Colorless solution

Result
(+/)
+
+

*Performed in chronological order

Unknown
Test*
No.
I758c
Barfoeds Test
I758c
Seliwanoffs Test

Observation
Clear blue solution
Red/orange solution

Result
(+/)

*Performed in chronological order

DISCUSSION

Many carbohydrates, often but not always with the general formula (CH2O)n,
where n equals 3 or more, can be identified using reagents, which react with
carbohydrates to yield highly colored products. However, the precise nature of the
reaction varies with the carbohydrate under investigation. That is, the reactions or colored
products formed depend upon the number of individual carbohydrate molecules each
carbohydrate contains within their overall structure. In the case of first unknown
carbohydrate (unkn. no.: I420c), the Barfoeds test was first employed to identify whether
or not a monosaccharide or disaccharide was present in solution.

2
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona