Biochemical tests: Benedict's solution for reducing and non-reducing sugars; iodine/potassium iodide for starch
Two chemical tests identify carbohydrates in a sample. Benedict's solution detects sugars, and iodine solution detects starch — each test produces a visible colour change as its positive result.
Real World
Food fraud investigators have used iodine tests to verify whether products labelled as starch-free actually contain added starch — an approach used in EU food authenticity studies.
Exam Focus
For the non-reducing sugar test, state ALL four steps in order: Benedict's negative, acid hydrolysis, neutralise, repeat Benedict's — missing any step loses marks.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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