Lab 12-Identification of presence of Carbohydrate using Molisch test.

Usman Khaliq Yousaf Baig Syed Anees Asad Anas Ijaz

Department of biomedical
engineering
Air university
Islamabad, Pakistan
usmankhaliq856@gmail.com
Department of biomedical
engineering
Air university
Islamabad, Pakistan
hyousafbaig@gmail.com
Department of biomedical
engineering
Air university
Islamabad, Pakistan
aneesaleen@gmail.com
Department of biomedical
engineering
Air university
Islamabad, Pakistan
anasijaz@gmail.com

Zuhaa Ejaz Kazmi

Department of biomedical
engineering
Air university
Islamabad, Pakistan
Zuhaaejaz12@gmail.com

formulas were found to have a similar ratio of

Abstract- This work explores the techniques that
can be employed for the identification of
macromolecules. Different reagents are used for
the detection of various macromolecules. Our
primary goal was to ascertain the presence of
carbohydrates in the test sample. Carbohydrates
are hydrates of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. The
Molisch test is efficiently employed to detect
carbohydrates. The end result is formation of
violet-purplish ring structure of furfural. This
confirms presence of carbohydrates in our sample.
Carbohydrates are required in prodigious amount
as they serve as the energy sources of the body. The
body continuously utilizes and synthesizes
carbohydrates through respiration and
gluconeogenesis. The Molisch reagent detects
carbohydrates.
hydrogen to oxygen. [1]. A solution of naphthol in
95%ethanol is called a Molisch reagent. The most
practical use of this test is that if some food
product is labelled as sugar-free, then you can
easily test the product by Molisch's test that if the
product contains carbohydrate (or sugar) or not.
It The most practical use of this test is that if some
food product is labelled as sugar-free, then you
can easily test the product by Molisch's test that
if the product contains carbohydrate (or sugar) or
not. It is a highly specific reagent that is composed of
a solution of naphthol in 95%ethanol is called a
Molisch reagent. It can also be referred to as the
purple ring test. Other chemicals like that of
concentrated sulfuric acid are also used in the
test rather than the Molisch reagent.

Keywords- Macromolecules, reagent, Molisch reagent

I. INTRODUCTION

The world of biochemistry revolves around the

identification, isolation and analysis of various
macromolecules. Carbohydrate, class of naturally
occurring compounds and derivatives formed from
them. In the early part of the 19th century, substances
such as wood, starch, and linen were found to be
composed mainly of molecules
containing atoms of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), Fig 1. Reaction between reagent and sample
and oxygen (O) and to have the general formula
C6H12O6; other organic molecules with similar
 II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fig 2. Positive Molisch test

We require the following apparatus for precise

measuring, mixing and heating of our chemicals so we
isolate our protein.

• Beaker IV. CONCLUSION

• Pipette
• Stirrer
Our task is to identify carbohydrates from our sample.
The first step in carbohydrate detection is the
formation of test sample by dissolving sugar in water.
Second, we need to measure two ml of the sample
solution and set it aside in a test tube. Similarly add
2ml of water in a separate test tube. This will act as a
control. We add 2 drops of Molisch’s reagent in botch
test tube. This is followed by titling the test tubes and
gradually adding concentrated H2SO4.
III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
In this experiment our primary goal was to detect the
presence of carbohydrates in a given sample. The
Molisch test offers high sensitivity and versatility,
detecting even trace amounts of carbohydrates across
a wide range of samples with a simple and rapid
procedure.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I, Zuhaa Ejaz Kazmi would be eternally grateful to our
supervisor Sir Fahad Shakeel for lending his expertise
and guiding us in writing a research report on this
topic.

The end result was formation of a dark colored ring

like structure in the solution containing carbohydrates.
The ring is formed is due to the reaction of the reagent
with the carbohydrates in the sample resulting in the
formation of furfural ring. A darker colored ring was REFRENCES
observed which due to excessive hydrolysis of sugars. [1]

E. Davidson, “ carbohydrates”. Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/science/carbohydrate
(march 24, 2023)