Activity 4

TEST FOR CARBOHYDRTES

Carbohydrates, as a class, are the most abundant organic compounds found in

nature. They are produced by green plants and by bacteria using the process known as
photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is taken from the air by means of solar energy to yield
the carbohydrate as well as all the other chemicals needed by the organisms to survive
and grow.
Molisch test is the general test for carbohydrates since all carbohydrates give
positive result to this test.

MATERIALS
Watch glass test tube
Test tube rack test tube brush

CHEMICALS
Glucose fructose 5% NaCl
sucrose 0.2% HClMolisch’s reagent
lactose 95% alcohol

PROCEDURE
A. Molisch’s Test
1. Place 1 ml of 2% sugar solution (glucose, fructose, , sucrose, and lactose) in
separate test tubes.
2. Add 2 drops of Molisch reagent and mix thoroughly.
3. Allow 1 ml conc. H2SO4 to flow slowly along the sides of the inclined test tubes.
4. Observe the color produced at the junction of the two liquids.
Name : _____________________ Date : ________________________

Section: _____________________ Score:_________________________

Activity 4

TEST FOR CARBOHYDRTES

(Molisch Test)

I. Molisch’s Test (1 pt)

Sugar Color Observed Is carbohydrate present?

1. Glucose

2. Fructose

3. Lactose

4. Sucrose

Questions:

1. Why Molisch test considered as general test for carbohydrates?.

The color changed from blue to brown, then to orange/dark orange and finally settled at a red/reddish
brown color.

Reactions Of Fehling’s Test

The reaction between copper(II) ions and aldehyde in Fehling’s solution is represented as;
RCHO + 2 Cu2+ + 5 OH− → RCOO− + Cu2O + 3 H2O
When tartrate is added, the reaction can be written as:
RCHO + 2 Cu(C4H4O6)22− + 5 OH− → RCOO− + Cu2O + 4 C4H4O62− + 3 H2O
When the redox reaction is completed, the copper II ions are reduced to Copper I oxide, which forms a
red precipitate and is insoluble in water. A positive test result is indicated by the presence of this red
precipitate. The sodium salt of the acid is left behind in solution.
Also Read: Redox Reactions
Common Uses Of Fehling’s Reagent
• Fehling’s solution is used to distinguish between aldehyde and ketone functional groups.
Aldehydes oxidize to give a positive result but ketones won’t react to the test. (except for α-hydroxy
ketones). It is also used as a general test for determining monosaccharides and other reducing sugars.
For aldose monosaccharides, it shows a positive test result which is mainly due to the oxidizable
aldehyde group. We also get a positive result for ketose monosaccharides, as they are converted to
aldoses by the base in the reagent. In medicine, Fehling’s solution is used to detect glucose in urine as a
part of detecting diabetes.
• Fehling’s Reagent is used in the breakdown of starch where it changed to glucose syrup and
maltodextrins (a polysaccharide used as a food additive). This is done in order to measure the amount of
reducing sugar.
• Formic acid (HCO2H) gives a positive result for Fehling’s test.

Uses and Applications of Fehling’s Solution

Fehling’s solution is used to test for monosaccharides. The most important application is to detect
reducing sugar like glucose. Excess of glucose in blood and urine can lead to diabetes. Fehling’s reagent
is also used in the breakdown of starch to glucose syrup and maltodextrins, a polysaccharide used as a
food additive [1].
•

Credit ANDREW LAMBERT PHOTOGRAPHY / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Caption Fehling's test for sugars. Five test tubes showing the colour changes observed when using
Fehling's reagent (blue) to test for the presence of simple sugars. From left to right the test tubes
contain: no sugar (control), 0.1% glucose solution (cloudy blue), 1% glucose solution (orange), 10%
glucose solution (brown), and sucrose (no colour change). Fehling's reagent contains copper ions, giving
it its blue colour. They oxidize the aldehyde group in glucose, forming solid copper oxide. The copper in
the oxide has a lower oxidation state, causing the colour change. Sucrose has no aldehyde group. For
the start of the reaction, see image A500/448
To test your sample you need to prepare fresh Fehling's reagent each time. Generally, the positive test
with Fehling's reagent is red precipitate.
IN SHORT THE ANSWER IS:
"However, variations in the color change from Orange to brick red have been noted. The reason for this
could be different amounts of reducing sugar. 1% will give red color. So you may have different variation
in the colors depending on amount of sugar."
DETAIL:
You need to understand little chemistry behind this:
Fehling's solution is actually composed of Fehling's A and Fehling's B solution.
Fehling's A is a aqueous solution (blue) of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate and Fehling's B is a colorless
solution of aqueous potassium sodium tartrate (Rochelle salt) and a strong alkali like NaOH.
When the equal volumes of A and B are mixed, the bistartratocuprate(II) complex (i.e. Cu2+) is formed
which is Fehling's reagent (Deep blue in color).
This reagent is an oxidizing agent which when mixed with aldehyde containing compounds such as
reducing sugars, it oxidizes aldehyde to carboxylate ions. During this process, the Cu2+ (Divalent) of
bistartratocuprate(II) complex gets reduce to Copper I i.e.Cu+ (Monovalent). Due to this, red copper (I)
oxide is precipitate out of the reaction.
non reducing sugar generally do not react with this.