Question

When we test for reducing sugar. What do we mean by the term "Reducing sugar" ???? Does it mean that if it contains sugar???

Answer 1

Please refer to the explanation below.

Explanation:

I'll split your questions in order from one to three.

`1.` We use Benedict's solution to test for reducing sugars. It changes colour in the presence of reducing sugars. The colour varies, as shown in this picture:

`2.` A reducing sugar just means that the sugar can act as a reducing agent. What that means is that the sugar can reduce other compounds by giving them electrons, and itself gets oxidized.

`3.` Yes, reducing sugars do in fact contain sugars, as they are sugars themselves! Some examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Note that all the sugars mentioned are all monosaccharides, and the `3` sugars have the same formula of `C_6H_12O_6`.