Biochemical Tests: Reducing Sugars & Starch (OCR A Level Biology)

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Biochemical Tests for Reducing Sugars & Starch

  • Benedict’s solution can be used to carry out a semi-quantitative test on a reducing sugar solution to determine the concentration of reducing sugar present in the sample
    • It is important that an excess of Benedict’s solution is used so that there is more than enough copper (II) sulfate present to react with any sugar present

  • The intensity of any colour change seen relates to the concentration of reducing sugar present in the sample
    • A positive test is indicated along a spectrum of colour from green (low concentration) to brick-red (high concentration of reducing sugar present)

  • A semi-quantitative test can be carried out by setting up standard solutions with known concentrations of a reducing sugar (such as glucose)
  • These solutions should be set up using a serial dilution of an existing stock solution
    • Serial dilutions are created by taking a series of dilutions of a stock solution. The concentration decreases by the same quantity between each test tube
    • They can either be ‘doubling dilutions’ (where the concentration is halved between each test tube) or a desired range (e.g. 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 mmol dm-3)

  • Each solution is then treated in the same way: add the same volume of Benedict’s solution to each sample and heat in a water bath that has been boiled (ideally at the same temperature each time) for a set time (5 minutes or so) to allow colour changes to occur
    • It is important to ensure that an excess of Benedict’s solution is used

  • Any colour change observed for each solution of a known concentration in that time can be attributed to the concentration of reducing sugar present in that solution
  • The same procedure is carried out on a sample with an unknown concentration of reducing sugar which is then compared to the standard solution colours to estimate the concentration of reducing sugar present
  • To avoid issues with human interpretation of colour, a colorimeter could be used to measure the absorbance or transmission of light through the sugar solutions of known concentration to establish a range of values that an unknown sample can be compared against a calibration curve

Colorimeters

  • A colorimeter is an instrument that beams a specific wavelength (colour) of light through a sample and measures how much of this light is absorbed (arbitrary units)
  • They provide a quantitative measurement
  • They contain different wavelengths or colour filters (depends on the model of colorimeter), so that a suitable colour can be shone through the sample and will not get absorbed. This colour will be the contrasting colour (eg. a red sample should have green light shone through)
    • Remember that a sample will look red as that wavelength of light is being reflected but the other wavelengths will be absorbed

  • Colorimeters must be calibrated before taking measurements
    • This is completed by placing a blank into the colorimeter and taking a reference, it should read 0 (that is, no light is being absorbed)
    • This step should be repeated periodically whilst taking measurements to ensure that the absorbance is still 0

  • The results can then be used to plot a calibration or standard curve
    • Absorbance against the known concentrations can be used
    • Unknown concentrations can then be determined from this graph

 2.1 The Benedict’s test - Colorimeter and Calibration Curve (1), downloadable AS & A Level Biology revision notes

2.1 The Benedict’s test - Colorimeter and Calibration Curve (2), downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

A colorimeter is used to obtain quantitative data that can be plotted to create a calibration curve to be used to find unknown concentrations

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Alistair

Author: Alistair

Expertise: Biology & Environmental Systems and Societies

Alistair graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Biological Sciences. He has taught GCSE/IGCSE Biology, as well as Biology and Environmental Systems & Societies for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. While teaching in Oxford, Alistair completed his MA Education as Head of Department for Environmental Systems & Societies. Alistair has continued to pursue his interests in ecology and environmental science, recently gaining an MSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation with Edinburgh Napier University.