the managing director of a well-known company on wall street thrives on a diet of fruit jam, bread, pasta, and coffee. She exercises intermittently. One day she decides to to her primary healthcare provider for a routine checkup. The healthcare provider recommends that she take the Benedict's test. Assume that the glucose levels of the patient are high.
State the results that the test would indicate( specify the color of the solution).
State the composition and properties of the ketohexose derived from fruit jam.
Describe the manner in which ketohexose acts as a reducing sugar in the test.
Aren't these questions answered in your text/notes?
To understand the results of the Benedict's test and how it relates to the given scenario, let's break it down:
1. The Benedict's Test: It is a chemical test used to detect the presence of reducing sugars, such as glucose, in a solution. The test involves adding Benedict's reagent (a blue solution containing copper sulfate) to the sample and heating it. If reducing sugars are present, they will react with the Benedict's reagent and cause a color change.
2. Glucose levels are high: Since you mentioned that the glucose levels of the patient are high, it indicates that there is an excessive amount of glucose present in her body. High blood glucose levels can be associated with conditions like diabetes or insulin resistance.
3. Results of the test: Since the patient has high glucose levels, the Benedict's test would indicate a positive result, meaning that the solution would change color. In this case, the color change would depend on the concentration of glucose present. The color may range from green (indicating a small amount) to yellow, orange, or even red (indicating higher concentrations).
Now, let's move on to the second part of your question:
4. Composition and properties of ketohexose derived from fruit jam: Ketohexose is a type of monosaccharide, which is a simple sugar. It has six carbon atoms and contains a ketone group (a specific functional group). In the context of fruit jam, some fruits contain a sugar called fructose, which is a ketohexose. Fructose is commonly found in fruits like apples, pears, and berries, and it is the main sugar responsible for the sweet taste in fruit jams.
5. Action of ketohexose as a reducing sugar: Ketohexose (such as fructose) is considered a reducing sugar because it has a free or reactive carbonyl group (the ketone group) that can donate electrons. In the Benedict's test, the copper ions in the Benedict's reagent are reduced by the ketohexose. This reduction leads to a change in the copper ions' oxidation state, causing the color change in the solution. The greater the concentration of the reducing sugar, the more significant the color change will be.
In conclusion, if the managing director of the company on Wall Street, who has a diet rich in fruit jam (likely containing fructose) and high glucose levels, takes the Benedict's test, it would result in a positive test indicating the presence of reducing sugars. The ketohexose derived from fruit jam, like fructose, acts as a reducing sugar because of its carbonyl group, which can donate electrons and reduce the copper ions in the test solution, resulting in a color change.