What is Reducing Sugar?
A reducing sugar donates electrons to another chemical substance and is characterized by a free aldehyde or ketone group in the sugar molecule. These functional groups can undergo oxidation-reduction reactions. An example includes glucose and maltose. They have an open-chain form with an aldehyde group or a free hemiacetal group. The anomeric carbon of sugar can be used to identify the sugar type. It is a reducing sugar if it has an OH group in its anomeric carbon.
Reducing vs Non-reducing Sugar
Reducing and non-reducing sugars are two categories of carbohydrates distinguished by their ability to undergo chemical reactions with other substances. Reducing sugars, like glucose and fructose, possess free aldehyde or ketone groups that enable them to undergo chemical reactions. In contrast, non-reducing sugars lack these groups and remain inert to such reactions. In this article, we will learn about reducing and non-reducing sugar, their examples, reactions, and differences.
Table of Content
- Difference Between Reducing and Non-Reducing Sugars
- Definition of Reducing and Non-Reducing Sugar
- What is Reducing Sugar?
- What is Non-Reducing Sugar?
- Characteristics of Reducing and Non-Reducing Sugars
- Test For Reducing and Non-Reducing Sugar
- Reducing and Non-Reducing Sugar Examples
- Functions of Reducing and Non- Reducing Sugars
- Importance of Reducing and Non-Reducing Sugar
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