Carbohydrates - Reducing Sugars

Reducing Sugars

Reducing sugars are those sugars capable of reducing copper (II) ions in a solution to copper (I) oxide. The reducing sugars include:

(1) all aldoses (whether in the straight chain or cyclic form)

(2) -hydroxyketoses. An -hydroxyketose contains the group below. Fructose is an example.

(3) disaccharides that contain a hemiacetal or hemiketal. Maltose (left) is a reducing sugar. Sucrose (right) is not.

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