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Mucic Acid Test

This document describes the mucic acid test procedure and principles. The test involves adding nitric acid to glucose, galactose, and lactose samples. Galactose and lactose both yield insoluble mucic acid crystals upon heating, while glucose does not. This allows galactose to be identified. Lactose gives a positive result because the nitric acid hydrolyzes the lactose dimer into its monosaccharide subunits of glucose and galactose, and the galactose then forms mucic acid crystals.

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Tom Anthony Tonguia
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7K views

Mucic Acid Test

This document describes the mucic acid test procedure and principles. The test involves adding nitric acid to glucose, galactose, and lactose samples. Galactose and lactose both yield insoluble mucic acid crystals upon heating, while glucose does not. This allows galactose to be identified. Lactose gives a positive result because the nitric acid hydrolyzes the lactose dimer into its monosaccharide subunits of glucose and galactose, and the galactose then forms mucic acid crystals.

Uploaded by

Tom Anthony Tonguia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MUCIC ACID

TEST
Group 6

PROCEDURE:
Prepare 3 test tubes and label as follows: glucose, galactose,
and lactose
Add 1 mL of each of the test sugars respectively.
Carefully place 1 mL of concentrated Nitric Acid into each tube
and mix thoroughly for a minute.
Using a masking tape, label 3 glass slides with the name of the
sugar samples.
Hold a slide with a wooden test tube holder along one end.
Transfer some drops of the mixture onto the slide and heat over
an alcohol lamp. Do not scorch. Continue doing this until one mL
or half of the sample has been transferred.
Cool the slide to room temperature.
Examine the crystals formed under the microscope.

A. What is the principle


involved in the mucic acid test?
Oxidation of most monosaccharides
by nitric acid yields soluble dicarboxylic
acids. However, oxidation of galactose
yields insoluble mucic acid. Lactose will
also yield a mucic acid due to
hydrolysis of glycosidic linkage between
its glucose and galactose subunits.
Being insoluble, galactosaccharide acid
crystals separate out.

b. What is the purpose of the


test?

This test is used in


the identification of
GALACTOSE.

C. What components make up


the mucic acid test?

H2O and HNO3

D. Provide the type equation


used in the test.
HC=O-(CHOH)4-COOH (aq) + 2 HNO3 (aq) -->
HOC=O-(CHOH)4-COOH (s) + H2O (l) + 2 NO2 (g)

OH

CH2OH
O

COOH
OH

HNO3
OH

OH

OH
OH

OH

COOH

When galactose is oxidized by nitric


acid, insoluble mucic acid is formed. A
positive result is the formation of a
precipitate. Lactose is a dimer of
glucose and galactose. The nitric acid
will hydrolyze the dimer and so lactose
will also give a positive result.
Galactose is converted to Saccharic
acid on heating with HNO3(a strong
oxidizing agent). Mucic acid (galactaric
acid) which is formed from galactose
due to the oxidation of both aldehyde &
primary alcoholic group at C1&C6.

E. Show the sample equation involved


in the reaction between mucic acid
reagent and your sample/s which gave
a positive result.

F(a). Provide a possible explanation


for the positive results obtained with
your samples.
F(b). Provide a possible explanation
for the negative results obtained with
your samples.

GALACTOSE

LACTOSE

GLUCOSE

G. Explain why only galactose


forms the white sandy crystals.

H. Lactose has also been known to


form crystals in the mucic acid test.
Rationalize why is this possible.

The
Nitric
Acid
first
catalyzes
hydrolysis
of
lactose to glucose and
galactose then the Nitric
acid oxidizes both of these
sugars to be tetrahydroxy
acids. Mucic acid crystallizes
out, which is a positive test.

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