Name_____________________

Biology 12 Unit 2 Organic Molecules Worksheet

Instructions: Please refer to the Unit 2 Assignment activity and answer in complete sentences.
Carbohydrates:
1. What are monosaccharides and what molecules are contain in a monosaccharide (draw a diagram)?
Monosaccharides are single sugars that react with a mixture called Benedict's reagent or Benedict's
solution. The reaction changes the color of the reagent to green, red or orange depending on how much
sugar is present.

2. What colour is Benedicts reagent? What observations (colour and changes) were made when
Benedicts reagent was added to water?
The colour of the Benedicts reagent is blue. After 5 minutes of being in boiled water, it turned
bright blue.
3. What observations (colour and changes) were made when Benedicts reagent was added to glucose
solution and heated?
After adding glucose, it turned into a brown colour and it became mucky.
4. Describe the expected results and observations for a positive test for simple sugar. Describe the
expected results and observations for a negative test for simple sugar.
The expected result for a positive test for simple sugar is a bright yellow colour. The expected
result for a negative test for simple sugar is blue to blue-green or yellow green.
5. Describe the expected results and observations for a positive test for complex sugar (ie. Starch).
Describe the expected results and observations for a negative test for complex sugar. What is the
indicator used for testing complex sugar?
The expected result for a positive test for complex sugar would be a deep blue colour.
The expected result for a negative test for complex sugar would be an amber colour.
We would use iodine test to test the complex sugar.

6. If hydrolysis occurred with the sucrose, what would you expect to see if you did the Benedicts
test? Explain why.
Benedict's test uses a chemical which will react with reducing sugars (like glucose and fructose) to
produce a precipitate. Hydrolysis of sucrose produces glucose and fructose, both reducing sugars.
So, if sucrose has been hydrolyzed, there will be reducing sugars present which will react with
Benedict's reagent to give you a positive test.
7. Would you do the iodine test? Explain why or why not.
I think I would do the iodine test on complex sugar such as starch. Due to starch's long structure, a
shorter polymer is stuck in the middle of starch. The Iodine then binds to this amylose in the starch
molecule and turns it black. Simple sugar is not altered by iodine because it is a single molecule.
Proteins:
8. Describe the expected results and observations for a positive test for protein. Describe the expected
results and observations for a negative test for protein. What is the indicator used for testing
protein?
The expected result for a positive test for protein would be a purple colour.
The expected result for a negative test for protein would be a transparent colour.
We would use an indicator called biuret which is a blue colour.
Fats:
9. Describe the expected results and observations for a positive test for fat. Describe the expected
results and observations for a negative test for fat. What is the indicator used for testing the
presence of fat?
The expected result for a positive test for fat would be a transparent colour.
The expected result for a negative test for fat would be a mixture of red and yellow colour not
mixed
The indicator we used is called Sudan IV
Foods:
10. Complete the table of common food item and the presence of organic compounds. Please indicate
a positive test (presence) with a + and a negative test with a -.
Presence of
Organic
molecules
Types of Food
Potato
Orange Juice
Nuts (almonds)
Eggs
Salmon
Milk

Simple Sugars

Starch

Protein

Fat

+
+

+
+
+
+

+
+
-