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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is an example of a reducing sugar?
A
Glucose
B
Cellulose
C
Sucrose
D
Starch
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of reducing sugars: Reducing sugars are carbohydrates that can act as reducing agents because they have a free aldehyde group (-CHO) or a free ketone group (-C=O) in their structure. These groups can participate in redox reactions, such as the Benedict's test.
Analyze the structure of glucose: Glucose is a monosaccharide with a free aldehyde group in its open-chain form, making it a reducing sugar.
Examine cellulose: Cellulose is a polysaccharide composed of glucose units linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds. These bonds prevent the individual glucose units from having free aldehyde or ketone groups, so cellulose is not a reducing sugar.
Evaluate sucrose: Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose linked by a glycosidic bond. This bond involves the aldehyde group of glucose and the ketone group of fructose, preventing either from being free. Therefore, sucrose is not a reducing sugar.
Assess starch: Starch is a polysaccharide composed of amylose and amylopectin, which are chains of glucose units linked by α-glycosidic bonds. These bonds prevent the glucose units from having free aldehyde or ketone groups, so starch is not a reducing sugar.