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Benedict's

why is it important to add an equal volume of Benedict's solution to the unknown solution?
Sorry you've not had any responses about this. :frown:

Why not try posting in a specific subject forum- you might have more luck there.

Here's a link to our subject forum which should help get you more responses. :redface:

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Reply 2
Avatar for jamestg
jamestg
21
Original post by Anonymousfame98
why is it important to add an equal volume of Benedict's solution to the unknown solution?


Because the concentration/volume of the chemicals within the reagent isn't strong enough to react with all of the unknown solution? So you have to add an equal amount for it to fully react??

I don't know, that's more of a chemistry question than biology although I know it's from the saccharide tests from biology.
Reply 3
Avatar for Kozmo
Kozmo
10
Ideally, an excess wants to be added, to (as Jamestg said) ensure the unknown solution (likely a reducing sugar) entirely reacts with the Copper (II) sulphate (benedict's reagent).
I'm assuming an equal volume is a sufficient amount to allow this based upon the molar ratios in the chemical reaction (if we were to look at the equation), although using 10x more wouldn't make a difference - it'd still be in an excess and so all of the unknown solution would react (if a reducing sugar), and a precipitate would be formed. However, one may avoid this as a colour change in the solution wouldn't be particularly clear as large quantities of the blue copper sulphate would still be present.

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