Experiment – 5 Test For The Presence Of Sugar, Starch, Proteins,

And Fats - Detection In Suitable Plant And Animal Materials

Aim
To carry out appropriate tests, to detect the presence of sugar (sucrose), starch, proteins, and
fats in suitable animal and plant materials.
Nutrition is a source through which living entities obtain food for the body to get fueled with
energy. Therefore the food we eat must be well-balanced with all the substances that are
required by our body to perform daily activities, these substances are known as nutrients.

Test for Sucrose

The presence of sucrose can be tested in a sample using Benedict’s test.

Material Required

 Benedict’s Reagent
 Sugar cane extract
 Concentrated HCl
 NaOH solution
 Burner
 Dropper
 Test-tube
 Test tube holder

Procedure

 Take a clean and dried test-tube and add sugar cane extract into it.
 Now carefully add a few drops of concentrated HCl using a dropper to the test tube.
 Hold the test tube securely with the help of a test tube holder.
 Place the test tube near the Bunsen burner and allow the solution to boil for two
minutes.
 While boiling, the hydrolysis of sucrose occurs and the fructose converts to glucose.
 With the help of a dropper, add a few drops of NaOH solution to the test tube so as
the solution turns alkaline.
 Now add a few drops of Benedict’s reagent with the help of a dropper into the test
tube.
 With the help of a test tube holder, place the test tube near the Bunsen burner and
allow the solution to boil for a few minutes.
 Observe the changes.

Observation
The colour of the solution colour from blue colour to green colour. From green colour, it
finally changes to brick red or orange colour. This indicates that the solution contains glucose.

Test For Starch

Material Required

 Potato extract
 Iodine solution
 Test tube
 Dropper

Procedure

 Take a clean and dried test-tube and add potato extract into it.
 Add five to six drops of iodine solution with the help of a dropper into the test tube.
 Keep the test tube undisturbed and allow the mixtures to stand for a few seconds.
 Observe the changes.

Observation
The presence of starch in the potato extract is indicated when the colour changes to a blue-
black colour.

Test For Proteins

The presence of proteins in a sample can be detected by the following test:
3. Million’s Test

Materials Required

 Million’s Reagent
 Egg albumin
 Test tube
 Dropper

Procedure

 Take a clean and dried test-tube and add egg albumin into it.
 With the help of a dropper, add a few drops of the Million’s reagent into the test tube
containing the egg albumin.
 Keep the test tube undisturbed and allow the mixtures to stand for 5 minutes.
 After a few minutes, observe the changes.

Observation
The sample indicates the presence of proteins when the colour changes to pink.

Test For Fats

The presence of fats in a sample can be detected by the following test:

 Sudan III Test

1. Sudan III Test

Materials Required

 Sudan III Solution

 Oil
 Test tube
 Dropper
 Egg Albumin

Procedure

 Take a clean and dried test-tube and add a few drops of oil into it.
 Now into the same test tube, add five to six drops of the Sudan III reagent with the
help of a dropper.
 Stir the test tube continuously and allow the solution to stand for a while.
 After a few seconds, observe the changes.

Observation
The presence of fat in the sample is indicated when pink colour droplets appear on the test
tube.

Benedict’s test
 I

Iodine Test – In the presence of starch it turns blue black.

https://youtu.be/InwBfJq9CmM - Video

https://youtu.be/QacQmS3aaTI - Video

https://youtu.be/1a4Jy6JOjiY - Video
Note: The diagrams of the test tube with the change in colour should be drawn
on the plain side of the book.