INTRODUCTION Rating:

Carbohydrates are the most

abundant class of organic
compounds found in living Name:
organisms. They originate as ________________________________
products of photosynthesis. Its Laboratory Schedule:
primary function is to provide ____________________
the body with energy most Date performed:
especially our brain and ________________________
nervous tissue. Date submitted
_________________________
Carbohydrates (also Group No.
called saccharides) are _____________________________
molecular compounds made
from just three elements: ACTIVITY NO. 10
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Monosaccharides (e.g. glucose) CARBOHYDRATES: PHYSICAL
and disaccharides (e.g. PROPERTIES AND GENERAL TESTS
sucrose) are relatively small
molecules. They are often
called sugars. Other
carbohydrate molecules are OBJECTIVES
very large (polysaccharides At the end of the laboratory session, you should be
such as starch and cellulose. able to
1. differentiate accurately the physical appearance
of carbohydrates
2. discern correctly the solubility properties of
carbohydrates using ordinary solvents
3. perform accurately the general tests for
carbohydrates
4. understand completely the principles behind
these tests

MATERIALS
Glucose (s) Cotton fibers 5% starch test tube holder
Fructose (s) Ribose (s) 5% ribose Pasteur pipet
Sucrose (s) 5% fructose 5% glucose test tube brush
Lactose (s) 5% sucrose conc H2SO4 ether
Starch (s) 5% lactose test tube rack Molisch reagent
Iodine solution Anthrone reagent

PROCEDURES AND OBSERVATIONS

Scoring rubric
For Procedures:
 3 points is given for every short procedure done that requires an immediate written observation
o 2 points for doing the procedure correctly
o 1 point for the answer
 1 point is given for items that do not require performing a procedure
For hypothesis/Generalization/Conclusions
 3 points is given for every hypothesis, generalizations or conclusions made
o 3 – all concepts were mentioned and a clear hypothesis, generalization and conclusion was
derived from the activity
 o 2 – one or 2 concepts were not mentioned and the hypothesis, generalization and conclusion
is not clear
o 1 – 3 or more concepts were not mentioned and the hypothesis, generalization and conclusion
is not clear
o 0 – no hypothesis generalization or conclusion was made

Physical properties of Carbohydrates

Physical appearance
1. Prepare eight 1/8 sheets of paper and label them as follows: Glucose, Fructose,
ribose, sucrose, lactose, starch, glycogen, cellulose
2. Get a pinch of these carbohydrates and place them on the appropriate paper. For
cellulose, use cotton fibers.
3. Observe their physical appearance and write your observations on the data sheet
provided below

Solubility of Carbohydrates
1. Place a matchstick- head-sized portion of the carbohydrate from the sample in your
1/8 sheets of paper and place them in appropriately labelled test tubes
2. Test their solubility in 1 mL of water
3. Repeat procedure (1) using a different set of test tubes
4. This time test the solubility of the carbohydrates in 1 mL ether
5. Write your observations on the data sheet below

Observations:

Physical Appearance
Carbohydrates Color Texture
Glucose
Fructose
Ribose
Sucrose
Lactose
Starch
Glycogen
Cellulose (cotton)
Solubility
Carbohydrates Solvents
Water Ether
Glucose
Fructose
Ribose
Sucrose
Lactose
Starch
Glycogen
Cellulose

 Did you observe a difference in the solubility of monosaccharides, disaccharides and

polysaccharides using different solvents?___________________________________
  Make a generalization about the solubility of carbohydrates in water
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
 Make a generalization about the solubility of carbohydrates in non-polar solvents.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

General Tests for Carbohydrates

Molisch test
1. Prepare 8 test tubes and label them appropriately
2. Place 0.5 mL of 5% glucose, fructose, ribose, sucrose, lactose, starch, and glycogen
solution in the appropriately labelled test tube. For cellulose, use cotton fibers.
3. Add 2 drops of Molisch reagent to each of the test tubes and mix thoroughly
4. Incline the tube with glucose and let 0.5 mL of conc. sulfuric acid slide through the
side of the test tube so that two layers are formed, the lower layer being sulfuric acid
 Caution: sulfuric acid is corrosive, be sure to wear goggles and gloves for
this activity.
5. Repeat the preceding procedure with the rest of the test tubes
6. Observe the color produced at the junction of the two liquids
7. Write your answer on the data sheet provided for you

Anthrone test
1. Prepare 8 test tubes and label them appropriately
2. Place 0.5 mL of 5% glucose, fructose, ribose, sucrose, lactose, starch, glycogen
solution in the appropriately labelled test tube. For cellulose, use cotton fibers.
3. Place 1 mL of Anthrone reagent into each of the test tube and mix
4. Let it stand until you observe a color change in the test tubes
5. Write your result on the data sheet provided for you

Iodine test
1. Prepare 8 test tubes and label them appropriately
2. Place 0.5 mL of 5% glucose, fructose, ribose, sucrose, lactose, starch and glycogen
solution in the appropriately labelled test tube. For cellulose, use cotton fibers.
3. Add 1 – 2 drops of Lugol’s reagent into each of the test tube
4. Observe any color changes
5. Record your result on the data sheet provided for you.

NB: document your results for Molisch, Anthrone and Iodine test, label properly and pass it
together with your questions for research

Observations

General tests for carbohydrates

Carbohydrate Molisch test Anthrone test Iodine test
Glucose
Fructose
Ribose
Sucrose
 Lactose
Starch
Glycogen
Cellulose (cotton)

Based on your observations, answer the following questions

Which test/s gave a positive result to all carbohydrates?

_________________________________________________________________________
Which of the test/s above gave a positive result only to a certain group of carbohydrates?
_________________________________________________________________________
Which group of carbohydrates is this?
_________________________________________________________________________

CLEAN-UP SUGGESTIONS

 The 1/8 sheets of paper should be placed in the appropriate trash bin
 The test tubes used for solubility of the carbohydrate in water can be poured safely
down the drain, on the other hand, the test tubes with ether should be poured into
the bottle provided by the CSR
 The test tubes with iodine can be poured directly into the bottle labeled halogens

CONCLUSIONS
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH

Scoring Rubric
10 points for the whole research paper
o 10 – outstanding – no mistakes identified
o 8 – excellent – 2 - 3 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 6 – Good – 4 - 5 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 4 – Fair – 6 -7 mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 2 – Poor – 8 or more mistakes or missing concepts identified
o 0 – No research paper was submitted

1. What is the principle behind Molisch and Anthrone test?

2. How will you differentiate starch from glycogen structurally?
3. Write the structural formula of the monosaccharides in this experiment using Fischer
projection while for the disaccharides, use Haworth formula
4. How are glycosidic linkages formed?
5. Differentiate the glycosidic linkages
a. between glucose and fructose in sucrose
b. of glucose units in amylose, amylopectin, glycogen, starch.
c. Between starch and cellulose