Why is starch not a reducing sugar

Sugar molecule becomes oxidized by reducing another compound. During this reaction, the carbonyl carbon of the sugar molecule converts into a carboxyl group losing electrons. The sugar that we consume is sucrose. Sucrose is a disaccharide made from one molecule of fructose and one molecule of glucose. Sucrose does not have a free aldehyde or keto group.

Therefore, it is a non-reducing sugar. Some disaccharides are reducing sugars such as lactose, cellobiose, and maltose. Some oligosaccharides and polysaccharides are also acting as reducing agents. Starch is a highly branched and highly organized polymeric carbohydrate. It is a white, tasteless granular organic compound made from amylase linear polymer and amylopectin branched polymer. Starch is a polysaccharide which has the chemical formula of C 6 H 10 O 5 n.

Starch is produced by green plants as an energy reserve in seeds, roots, tubers, stem and in fruits. Since most of the plant matter contains starch, it is the most common carbohydrate in the human diet. Starch is the main polymer in most of the foods that we eat such as wheat, rice, potatoes, maize etc. Starch is a non-reducing sugar.

It does not have a free aldehyde or ketone group to open up the starch structure. Starch can be identified by Iodine test. Starch gives a Blue-Black color with iodine. Glycogen which is in animal tissues has a similar structure to starch. But glycogen is highly branched than starch. Carbohydrates are different types such as monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Starch is a polysaccharide composed of linear polymer amylase and branched polymer amylopectin. It is a highly organized complex polymer which does not have free aldehyde or ketone group.

Sweet carbohydrates are mostly referred as sugars. Some sugars mainly monosaccharides and some disaccharides act as reducing agents since they possess free aldehyde or ketone groups in their structures. Hence, they are known as reducing sugars. Starch is not a reducing sugar. However, starch is the main organic compound which is produced by plants to store energy.

This is the difference between reducing sugar and starch. You can download PDF version of this article and use it for offline purposes as per citation note. Available here 2. Available here. Samanthi Udayangani holds a B. Degree in Plant Science, M. Your email address will not be published. Figure Reducing Sugar. Figure Starch. These phobias range from the fear of colors Bite the Bullet Biting the bullet refers to facing something difficult or unpleasant and enduring it without fear Search Here.

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