Recipe of the Week – Week 5: Benedict’s Reagent

Continuing our new series of chemical recipes, we bring you week 5 – Benedict’s reagent (C₇H₁₀CuNa₂O₁₅S).

Remember that when preparing any of our recipes, you should always wear appropriate PPE.

What is Benedict’s reagent?

Also known as Benedict’s qualitative solution or Benedict’s solution, this chemical reagent is used in Benedict’s tests to detect the presence of certain reducing sugars such as hemiacetals, alpha-hydroxy-ketones, and aldehydes. It is named after the American chemist who discovered it, Stanley Rossiter Benedict.

Positive results caused by the presence of reducing substances cause a colour change from clear blue to brick red. Heating the reagent can check its purity – no changes in the clear blue colour shows that the reagent is pure.

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