Reducing sugars

Definition

Reducing sugars are carbohydrates that can act as reducing agents due to their free aldehyde group or a ketone group that can isomerize to an aldehyde, enabling them to donate electrons to other molecules. These sugars undergo specific reactions that can help identify them, such as the Benedict's test.

Related terms

Monosaccharides:

Simplest form of carbohydrates consisting of single sugar molecules like glucose and fructose, many of which are reducing sugars.

Benedict's test: A chemical test used to identify reducing sugars, where the presence of these sugars turns the solution from blue to brick red upon heating.

Oxidation:

reduction reaction - A chemical reaction involving the transfer of electrons from one substance to another; reducing sugars participate as electron donors in these reactions