ACTIVITY NO.

2a

REACTIONS OF CARBOHYDRATES
INTRODUCTION:
Sugars, starches, gums and cellulose are a group of substances that comprises
carbohydrates. It usually contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and releases carbon dioxide plus
one or more water molecules upon combustion. It has a general formula of C n(H2O)n and it is
originated as a product of photosynthesis.
n CO2   +   n H2O   +   energy     CnH2nOn   +   n O2
Qualitative test for carbohydrates maybe based on the production of furfural and
hydroxymethylfurfural by treating them with strong acids and condensing them with various
phenolic compounds to form colored condensation products. They may also be based on the
reactivity of the aldehyde or potential aldehyde group.

Starch and glycogen can be distinguished from other polysaccharides by using Lugol’s
iodine reagent. 

Objectives: At the end of the activity, the student can:

1. Identify specific carbohydrates based on the different test done.

2. Classify sugars as reducing or non-reducing.

Reagents: 8 ml conc. Sulfuric acid, 1.5 ml alpha naphthol, 1 ml iodine in KI, 4 ml conc. HNO3,
4 ml Seliwanoff’s reagent, 3 ml Bial’s-orcinol reagent, SAMPLE: 10% of lactose,
sucrose, glucose, galactose, fructose, maltose, starch and xylose ( 10 ml each)

Materials: 12 test tubes 20 ml, test tube rack, test tube brush, test tube holder, alcohol lamp,
tripod, wire gauze, water bath, (10 ml) graduated cylinder, dropper, stirring rod, 3
droppers, 250 ml beaker

Procedure:

1. Molisch Test – (use all 8 samples) Place 1 ml of each sample in different test tubes. Add 1
drop of alpha napthol reagent in each tube. Mix thoroughly. Incline the tube and
CAREFULLY allow 1 ml of conc. H 2SO4 to flow down the side of the tube. Note the color
formed at the zone of contact between 2 liquids.

2. Iodine Test – ( use all 8 samples) place 1 ml of the sample in a test tube. Add a drop of
iodine. Observed color produced. Heat (direct heating) and note change in color. Cool and
record again the result.
3. Mucic acid test – place 1 ml of the sample (lactose, galactose, glucose, fructose) in separate
tubes. Add 1 ml conc. HNO3 in each tube. Heat the tubes in a boiling water bath for 1 hour.
Cool at room temperature. Induce crystallization by scratching the side of the tube with a
clean stirring rod, if no crystals appear; let it stand until the next laboratory period. Examine
the crystals under the microscope and draw.

4. Seliwanoff’s test – prepare 4 test tubes and place 5 drops of glucose, fructose, sucrose and
xylose in separate test tubes. Add 1 ml of seliwanoff’s reagent in each of the 4 test tubes.
Immerse in a boiling water bath. Observe the color change in each tube after 3 minutes of
boiling. If no color change is observed, continue heating for another 2 minutes and observe.

5. Bial’s-Orcinol test – place 5 drops each of the sugar solution (fructose, glucose and xylose)
into a clean separate test tube. Add 1 ml of bial’s-orcinol reagent into each tube. Place the
tubes in a boiling water bath. Note the color change during the 5 minutes of heating.