A student used the following steps in testing for a non-reducing sugar. I. added Benedict's solution to the sugar solution ll. added dilute hydrochloric aci...

Assessment: WAEC SSCE - Biology - 2015 (Objective) Subject: Biology

Question 1 Report

A student used the following steps in testing for a non-reducing sugar.

I. added Benedict's solution to the sugar solution

ll. added dilute hydrochloric acid to the sugar and boiled it;

lll. added sodium hydroxide solution to the solution in ll. and boiled;

IV. added Benedict's solution to the cooled solution in lll.

Use this information above to answer the question.

Why did the student add the dilute hydrochloric acid to the sugar solution in step ll? To
Answer Details
The student added dilute hydrochloric acid to the sugar solution in step ll to hydrolyze the non-reducing sugar into its reducing sugar components. This step breaks down the non-reducing sugar into smaller reducing sugar units that can then react with Benedict's solution in the subsequent steps. Without hydrolyzing the non-reducing sugar, it would not be able to react with Benedict's solution and give a positive result. Therefore, the addition of hydrochloric acid is an important step in testing for non-reducing sugars.

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