Tag: Sugar test

Developed by chemist Theodor Seliwanoff, Seliwanoff's test is a specific qualitative biochemical procedure used to differentiate between ketose and aldose sugars. It operates on the principle that ketoses, such as fructose, dehydrate much faster than aldoses, like glucose, when heated with a strong acid.

While all monosaccharides are reducing sugars, disaccharides can be classified as either reducing or non-reducing depending on their chemical structure. Knowing how to tell if a disaccharide is reducing involves understanding the role of the anomeric carbon within its glycosidic bond.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the average American consumes around 270 calories of added sugar per day, which can be a difficult quantity to accurately track. Fortunately, you can learn how to test if there is sugar in something using simple chemical and observational methods, both at home and in a lab setting.

According to the American Heart Association, many people consume more sugar than they realize, with the body not requiring added sugars for proper function. Identifying the presence of sugar, especially the hidden kinds, is a crucial skill for anyone aiming to make healthier dietary decisions and manage their intake effectively.