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Why do many proteins give a positive test with Molisch reagent what is the reaction involved in this test?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 13, 2026

Some proteins like glycoprotein give positive results to Molisch's test because they make a complex with carbohydrates. In Molisch's test, the carbohydrate undergoes dehydration upon the introduction of concentrated hydrochloric or sulphuric acid, resulting in the formation of an aldehyde.

What is the reaction involved in Molisch test?

Reactions: The test reagent dehydrates pentoses to form furfural (top reaction) and dehydrates hexoses to form 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (bottom reaction). The furfurals further react with -naphthol present in the test reagent to produce a purple product (reaction not shown).

Why does Molisch test give a positive result?

All carbohydrates (monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides) give a positive reaction for Molisch test. It is based on the dehydration of the carbohydrate by Sulphuric acid to produce an aldehyde, which condenses with two molecules of α-naphthol, resulting in appearance of a purple ring at the interface.

Which protein give positive test with Molisch reagent?

A positive reaction for Molisch's test is given by almost all carbohydrates (exceptions include tetroses & trioses). It can be noted that even some glycoproteins and nucleic acids give positive results for this test (since they tend to undergo hydrolysis when exposed to strong mineral acids and form monosaccharides).

Why do some proteins and lipids give a positive result to Molisch test?

Some proteins and lipids can also give positive Molisch test. This occurs if these substances have a bound carbohydrate moiety attached to them, e.g. albumin.

35 related questions found

Does protein give Molisch test?

Molisch test is a group test for all carbohydrates, either free or bound to proteins or lipids. It is a sensitive test that requires precision for the detection of carbohydrates.

What sample show a positive result with the Molisch test Why did this sample give a positive result?

The result of the Molisch test may be positive or negative. Positive result: If the test solution produces purple or purplish-red colored layers, it indicates the presence of carbohydrates. Hence, the test sample is positive for the Molisch test.

What is the positive result of Benedict's test?

A positive test with Benedict's reagent is shown by a color change from clear blue to brick-red with a precipitate. Generally, Benedict's test detects the presence of aldehydes, alpha-hydroxy-ketones, and hemiacetals, including those that occur in certain ketoses.

What is the reason why Molisch test is considered a general test for carbohydrates?

In Molisch's test, monosaccharides give a positive test faster. While disaccharides and polysaccharides react slowly with Molisch reagent and give the positive test in delay. Thus, Molisch's test for carbohydrates is very useful in the detection of the presence of carbohydrates in a substance.

What is the purpose of Molisch test?

Molisch's test is a chemical test which is used to check for the presence of carbohydrates in a given analyte. This test is named after Czech-Austrian botanist Hans Molisch, who is credited with its discovery.

Which will not give a positive test for Benedict's reagent?

Sucrose contains two sugars (fructose and glucose) joined by their glycosidic bond in such a way as to prevent the glucose isomerizing to aldehyde, or the fructose to α-hydroxy-ketone form. Sucrose is thus a non-reducing sugar, which does not react with Benedict's reagent.

What is the composition of Molisch reagent Mcq?

10% α-naphthol (C 10H 8OH) dissolved in ethanol (C 2H 5OH). It is used in Molisch's test for the detection of carbohydrates.

Would Benedict's reagent give a positive reaction with all carbohydrates?

Terms in this set (10) Would Benedict's reagent give a positive reaction w all carbohydrates? No because they didnt all turn blue/green. All monosaccharides and some disaccharides have the ability to aff electrons to other molecules.

What sugars give a positive Benedict's test?

This means that glucose will give a positive test with Benedicts' reagent, Fehlings solution, or the Tollens test, and the aldehyde will be oxidized to a carboxylic acid. Voila! A simple color change tells you if glucose is present!

Which one of the solutions is the positive control and which one of the solutions is the negative control for the Benedict's reaction?

The negative control is the distilled water plus Benedict's solution. The positive control is the reducing solution.

What indicates a positive Barfoed's test?

Therefore, it is possible to distinguish between a reducing monosaccharide and a reducing disaccharide using Barfoed's reagent. A positive test is a dark red precipitate and is evidence of a reducing monosaccharide.

What is Molisch test write down the reactions involved in the Molisch test of glucose?

Molisch's test is a sensitive chemical test, named after Austrian botanist Hans Molisch, for the presence of carbohydrates, based on the dehydration of the carbohydrate by sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid to produce an aldehyde, which condenses with two molecules of a phenol (usually α-naphthol, though other phenols ...

Which color change represents a positive reaction for the presence of protein using the biuret test?

The violet color is a positive test for the presence of protein, and the intensity of the color is proportional to the number of peptide bonds in the solution.

Why does a positive Benedict test result confirm that the unknown solution originally contained starch?

Why does a positive Benedict test result confirm that the unknown solution originally contained starch? A positive result indicates simple sugars (maltose) that result from starch being digested by amylase. A substance that is the smallest unit of a category of substances.

Did the table sugar solution test positive or negative for reducing sugars explain the science behind your results?

The table sugar was negative for reducing sugars because it contains sucrose. Sucrose is a disaccharide made up of the monomers glucose and fructose with bond formations that reduce both ends of the sugar making the disaccharide a non-reducing sugar.

What is the component of Benedict's reagent?

Benedict's reagent, also known as Benedict's solution, is a chemical reagent which is made up of a complex mixture of sodium citrate, sodium carbonate, and the pentahydrate of copper(II) sulfate.

Why does fructose give a positive Benedict test?

Because both the Tollens' and Benedict's reagents are basic solutions, ketoses (such as fructose) also give positive tests due to an equilibrium that exists between ketoses and aldoses in a reaction known as tautomerism.

Why does fructose react with Benedict's reagent?

Benedicts' test for non-reducing sugars

Sucrose which is commonly known as table sugar contains two reducing sugars moieties fructose and glucose. These reducing sugar are joined by their glycosidic bond in such a way as to prevent the glucose isomerising to aldehyde, or the fructose to alpha-hydroxy-ketone form.

Which of the following gives benedicts test?

Benedict's Test is used to test for simple carbohydrates. The Benedict's test identifies reducing sugars (monosaccharides and some disaccharides), which have free ketone or aldehyde functional groups. Benedict's solution can be used to test for the presence of glucose in urine.

Why do all monosaccharides react with Benedict's reagent?

A positive Benedict's test requires an aldehyde or ketone group that is located near a hydroxyl group. All monosaccharides are reducing sugars.