Get Answers to all your Questions

header-bg qa

What is the purpose of adding conc.\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{SO}_4 in Molisch’s test?

Option: 1

To dehydrate carbohydrates to form furfural and its derivatives


Option: 2

To hydrolyze carbohydrates to form glucose and fructose
 


Option: 3

To oxidize carbohydrates to form carboxylic acids

 


Option: 4

To reduce carbohydrates to form alcohol


Answers (1)

best_answer

 In Molisch's test, the addition of concentrated sulfuric acid to the carbohydrate solution serves to dehydrate the carbohydrates to form furfural and their derivatives. The reaction mechanism involves the removal of water molecules from the carbohydrates by the concentrated sulfuric acid, which leads to the formation of an aldehyde group.

For example, glucose can be dehydrated to form furfural as follows:

\text { Glucose }+\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{SO}_4 \rightarrow \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}+\mathrm{C}_5 \mathrm{H}_4 \mathrm{O}_2 \mathrm{CHO}

Posted by

Sanket Gandhi

View full answer

JEE Main high-scoring chapters and topics

Study 40% syllabus and score up to 100% marks in JEE