Difference between revisions of "Fehling's reagent"

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(Reagent)
(Reagent)
 
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;Solution A: 70 g of [[copper(II) sulfate]] pentahydrate dissolved in water and diluted to one litre
 
;Solution A: 70 g of [[copper(II) sulfate]] pentahydrate dissolved in water and diluted to one litre
 
;Solution B: 350 g of [[potassium sodium tartrate]] tetrahydrate ("Rochelle salt") and 100 g of sodium hydroxide dissolved in water and diluted to one litre
 
;Solution B: 350 g of [[potassium sodium tartrate]] tetrahydrate ("Rochelle salt") and 100 g of sodium hydroxide dissolved in water and diluted to one litre
The final reagent is {{nowrap|140&nbsp;mmol dm<sup>−3</sup>}} in copper(II) and {{nowrap|620&nbsp;mmol dm<sup>−3</sup>}} in total tartrate (a fourfold excess over copper), with a [[pH]] of about 14. The copper(II) is present as a variety of tartrate [[complex]]es, [Cu(C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>4</sub>O<sub>6</sub>)<sub>''n''</sub>]<sup>(2''n''−2)−</sup> (''n''&nbsp;= 2–6),<ref>{{citation | title = Novel Copper-Tartrate Coordination Compounds | first = Neil D. | last = Jespersen | doi = 10.1080/00032717208064332 | journal = Anal. Lett. | volume = 5 | issue = 7 | year = 1972 | pages = 497–508}}.</ref> which prevents the precipitation of [[copper(II) hydroxide]] or sparingly soluble [[copper(II) tartrate]].<ref>{{citation | title = Synthesis and crystal structure of a novel tartrate copper(II) two-dimensional coordination polymer: {[Cu<sub>2</sub>(C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>4</sub>O<sub>6</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>2</sub>]·4H<sub>2</sub>O}<sub>∞</sub> | last1 = Jian | first1 = Fangfang | last2 = Zhao | first2 = Pusu | last3 = Wang | first3 = Qingxiang | journal = J. Coord. Chem. | volume = 58 | issue = 13 | year = 2005 | pages = 1133–38 | doi = 10.1080/00958970500148446}}.</ref>
+
The final reagent is {{nowrap|140&nbsp;mmol dm<sup>−3</sup>}} in copper(II) and {{nowrap|620&nbsp;mmol dm<sup>−3</sup>}} in total tartrate (a fourfold excess over copper), with a [[pH]] of about 14. The copper(II) is present as a variety of tartrate [[complex]]es, [Cu(C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>4</sub>O<sub>6</sub>)<sub>''n''</sub>]<sup>(2''n''−2)−</sup> (''n''&nbsp;= 2–6),<ref>{{citation | title = Novel Copper-Tartrate Coordination Compounds | first = Neil D. | last = Jespersen | doi = 10.1080/00032717208064332 | journal = Anal. Lett. | volume = 5 | issue = 7 | year = 1972 | pages = 497–508}}.</ref> which prevents the precipitation of [[copper(II) hydroxide]] or sparingly soluble [[copper(II) tartrate]].<ref>{{citation | title = Synthesis and crystal structure of a novel tartrate copper(II) two-dimensional coordination polymer: {&#91;Cu<sub>2</sub>(C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>4</sub>O<sub>6</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>2</sub>&#93;·4H<sub>2</sub>O}<sub>∞</sub> | last1 = Jian | first1 = Fangfang | last2 = Zhao | first2 = Pusu | last3 = Wang | first3 = Qingxiang | journal = J. Coord. Chem. | volume = 58 | issue = 13 | year = 2005 | pages = 1133–38 | doi = 10.1080/00958970500148446}}.</ref>
  
 
The mixed reagent cannot be stored, as the tartrate ions are degraded and reduce the copper(II) to a precipitate of [[copper(I) oxide]].<ref name="Benedict">{{citation | last = Benedict | first = Stanley R. | authorlink = Stanley Rossiter Benedict | title = A Reagent For the Detection of Reducing Sugars | journal = J. Biol. Chem. | volume = 5 | issue = 6 | pages = 485–87 | year = 1908 | url = http://www.jbc.org/content/5/5/485.full.pdf}}.</ref>
 
The mixed reagent cannot be stored, as the tartrate ions are degraded and reduce the copper(II) to a precipitate of [[copper(I) oxide]].<ref name="Benedict">{{citation | last = Benedict | first = Stanley R. | authorlink = Stanley Rossiter Benedict | title = A Reagent For the Detection of Reducing Sugars | journal = J. Biol. Chem. | volume = 5 | issue = 6 | pages = 485–87 | year = 1908 | url = http://www.jbc.org/content/5/5/485.full.pdf}}.</ref>

Latest revision as of 13:54, 7 April 2010

Fehling's reagent, also called Fehling's solution, is a reagent used to test for reducing sugars, named after German chemist Hermann von Fehling.[1] It is an alkaline solution of copper(II) stabilized by tartrate ions.

Reagent

The reagent is prepared immediately before use by mixing equal volumes of two solutions:

Solution A
70 g of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate dissolved in water and diluted to one litre
Solution B
350 g of potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate ("Rochelle salt") and 100 g of sodium hydroxide dissolved in water and diluted to one litre

The final reagent is 140 mmol dm−3 in copper(II) and 620 mmol dm−3 in total tartrate (a fourfold excess over copper), with a pH of about 14. The copper(II) is present as a variety of tartrate complexes, [Cu(C4H4O6)n](2n−2)− (n = 2–6),[2] which prevents the precipitation of copper(II) hydroxide or sparingly soluble copper(II) tartrate.[3]

The mixed reagent cannot be stored, as the tartrate ions are degraded and reduce the copper(II) to a precipitate of copper(I) oxide.[4]

Test

Fehling's reagent was used to test for glucose in urine, a clear sign of diabetes, until it was superseded by Benedict's reagent and then by enzymatic methods, particularly those based on glucose oxidase.[5]

References

  1. Fehling, H. Die quantitative Bestimmung von Zucker und Stärkmehl mittelst Kupfervitriol. Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem. 1849, 72 (1), 106–13. DOI: 10.1002/jlac.18490720112.
  2. Jespersen, Neil D. Novel Copper-Tartrate Coordination Compounds. Anal. Lett. 1972, 5 (7), 497–508. DOI: 10.1080/00032717208064332.
  3. Jian, Fangfang; Zhao, Pusu; Wang, Qingxiang Synthesis and crystal structure of a novel tartrate copper(II) two-dimensional coordination polymer: {[Cu2(C4H4O6)2(H2O)2]·4H2O}. J. Coord. Chem. 2005, 58 (13), 1133–38. DOI: 10.1080/00958970500148446.
  4. Benedict, Stanley R. A Reagent For the Detection of Reducing Sugars. J. Biol. Chem. 1908, 5 (6), 485–87, <http://www.jbc.org/content/5/5/485.full.pdf>.
  5. Simoni, Robert D.; Hill, Robert L.; Vaughan, Martha Benedict's Solution, a Reagent for Measuring Reducing Sugars: the Clinical Chemistry of Stanley R. Benedict. J. Biol. Chem. 2002, 277 (16), e5, <http://www.jbc.org/content/277/16/e5.full.pdf>.

External links

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