When monosaccharides join together, water is removed, this is known as a condensation reaction
The subsequent bond that is formed is known as a glycosidic bond
When water is added to a disaccharide it breaks
the glycosidic bond releasing the monosaccharides.
This is known as hydrolysis.
Test for non-reducing sugars
some disaccharides are
non-reducing sugars (e.g.
sucrose)
They don't make Benedict's
regent change colour
The sample must be in liquid form
If it is not, then grind it up with water
Add 2cm3 of the food to 2cm3 of Benedict's reagent in a test tube
Place in test tube in a gently boiling water bath for 5 minutes
If the solution does not change
colour (remans blue) then a reducing
sugar is NOT present
Add another 3cm3 of the food to 2cm3 of hydrochloric
acid in a test tube and place in a gently boiling water
bath for 5 minutes
The hydrochloric acid will
hydrolyse any disaccharides
present into its monosaccharides
Slowly add sodium hydrogencarbonate solution to the test
tube in order to neutralise the hydrochloric acid, check with
pH paper to ensure the solution is alkaline
Re-test the resulting solution by heating it with
2cm3 of Benedict's reagent in a gently boiling
water bath for 5 minutes
If a non-reducing sugar is present
in the original sample, the
Benedict's reagent will now turn
orange-brown.
This is due to the the
reducing sugars that were
produced from the
hydrolysis of the
non-reducing sugar
Polysaccharides are polymers
formed by combining together many
monosaccharides
Monosaccharides joined together by glycosidic
bonds by condensation reaction
Very large molecules and so are insoluble
This makes them ideal for storage
When hydrolysed
polysaccharides break down
into disaccharides and
monosaccharides
Polysaccharides, such as
cellulose, are not used for storage,
but for structural support
Starch is a
polysaccharide
This is found in small grains
E.g chloroplasts
Test for starch
carried out at room temperature
Place 2cm3 of the sample being
tested into a test tube
Or a few drops can be placed on a
depression of a spotting tile
Add two drops of iodine and shake/stir
The presence of starch is indicated by a
blue-black coloration