Benedict's reagent

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Benedict's reagent, also called Benedict's solution, is a reagent used to test for reducing sugars, named after American chemist Stanley Rossiter Benedict.[1][2] Similar to Fehling's solution, it is an alkaline solution of copper(II), but it is stabilized by citrate ions rather than tartrate ions and is less corrosive and more stable to storage.[2]

Reagent

The reagent is prepared by dissolving 100 g of anhydrous sodium carbonate, 173 g of trisodium citrate dihydrate and 17.3 g of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate in water, and diluting to 1 litre.[1] The final solution is 71.3 mmol dm−3 in copper(II) and 588 mmol dm−3 in total citrate (an eightfold excess over copper), with a pH of about 12. The copper(II) is believed to be present as a 1:1 citrate complex, [Cu(C6H5O7)(OH)(H2O)n]2− (n = 0, 1).[3] The prepared solution can be stored for at least a year under normal laboratory conditions, unlike Fehling's solution or Tollen's reagent, which must be prepared freshly before each use.[1]

References

External links

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