Picric acid Test Iodine test

 To detect the presence of polysaccharides, primarily

Principle:
 is a very sensitive chemical test for the presence of
reducing sugars.
 Reducing sugars contains a free aldehyde or ketone
group possess reducing property.
starch.
Principle:
 is based on the fact that polyiodide ions form colored
adsorption complex with helical chains of glucose
residue of amylase (blue-black), dextrin (black), or
glycogen (reddish-brown).
 This test is used for the detection of starch in the
solution. The blue-black color is due to the formation
of starch-iodine complex.
 Starch contain polymer of α-amylose and amylopectin
which forms a complex with iodine to give the blue-
black color.

Reaction:
 The reducing sugars react with Picric Acid (toxic
yellow crystalline solid) also chemically known as
2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) to form a red coloured
Picramic Acid
 They reduce some organic acids when in alkaline
solution. The Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3) is added
to make the solution alkaline or basic. Thus, reducing
sugars reduce picric acid (yellow solution) to picramic
acid (mahogany red solution).

Reaction:

Positive result: blue-black or purple color solution

Example: Starch

Reagent: Saturated picric acid solution and 5 drops 10%

Na2CO3

Positive result: mahogany red solution

Examples:
 Positive: glucose, galactose, maltose, fructose,
lactose, xylose
 Negative: sucrose, glycogen, starch