SELIWANOFFS TEST

GROUP 4

A.)WHAT
IS
THE
PRINCIPLE
INVOLVED IN THE SELIWANOFF'S
TEST?
When heated, ketoses are more rapidly
dehydrated than aldoses.
When Seliwanoff's reagent is added to a solution
containing ketoses, a red color is formed rapidly
indicating a positive result. When added to a
solution containing aldoses, a slower forming light
pink or faint red is observed instead.

B. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF

THE TEST?
To distinguish if the carbohydrate present in the
solution is an aldose or ketose sugar.

PROCEDURE:
TEST TUBE 1

TEST TUBE 2

1 ml (15 drops) GLUCOSE

1 ml (15 drops) SUCROSE

(15 drops) SELIWANOFFS

REAGENT

(15 drops) SELIWANOFFS

REAGENT

Mix thoroughly for 1 minute.

Note any changes. When no changes is observed, place
the tube in a warm water (60 degrees C).
Remove all tubes once a change is observed in some of
the samples.
Note any changes and record your observations.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

FRUCTOSE - POSITIVE

GLUCOSE yellowish (-)

SUCROSE- faint pink (+)
AFTER 5 MINUTES

GLUCOSE yellowish (-)

SUCROSE- red (+)
AFTER 10 MINUTES

The reagent dehydrates ketohexoses to form 5hydroxymethylfurfural

Aldohexose reacts more slowly to give 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

5-hydroxymethylfurfural further condenses

with resorcinol present in the test reagent to
produce a cherry red product within two to five
minutes.

C. WHAT COMPONENTS MAKE UP THE

SELIWANOFFS REAGENT
HYDROCHLORIC ACID It is a dehydrating acid. The
acid hydrolyze polysaccharide and oligosaccharide
ketoses to simpler sugars, followed by furfural.
RESORCINOL- It is a condensation reagent. The
dehydrated ketose then reacts with two equivalents
of resorcinol in a series of condensation reactions to
produce a molecule with a deep cherry red color.

D. PROVIDE A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THE

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE RESULTS OBTAINED WITH
YOUR SAMPLE.

FRUCTOSE

SUCROSE

GLUCOSE

KETOSE

KETOSE, ALDOSE

ALDOSE

Red

Pale red

Yellow

BEFORE HEATING

AFTER 10MINS OF HEATING

 Fructose and sucrose are two common sugars

which give a positive test.
Sucrose gives a positive test as it is a
disaccharide consisting of fructose and glucose.

Negative Results
no red color appearing in the solution
All other sugars except fructose and sucrose gives
negative result with seliwanoffs reagent.
Aldose sugars have an aldehyde group, while ketose
have a ketone group. So if heated, ketose is faster
dehydrated than aldose.

E. COMPARE THE TEST WITH THE

MOLISCH TEST
Both tests are used to identify presence of
carbohydrates using condensation reagents which
reacts with the carbohydrates to produce highly
colored products. Often, the carbohydrate is initially
dehydrated into smaller saccharide units.
Molisch test is a sensitive but non-specific chemical
test for the presence of all carbohydrates while
Seliwanoffs Test is a specific test on detecting
ketose sugars.