MUCIC ACID

TEST
Group 6

PROCEDURE:
Prepare 3 test tubes and label as follows: glucose, galactose,
and lactose
Add 1 mL of each of the test sugars respectively.
Carefully place 1 mL of concentrated Nitric Acid into each tube
and mix thoroughly for a minute.
Using a masking tape, label 3 glass slides with the name of the
sugar samples.
Hold a slide with a wooden test tube holder along one end.
Transfer some drops of the mixture onto the slide and heat over
an alcohol lamp. Do not scorch. Continue doing this until one mL
or half of the sample has been transferred.
Cool the slide to room temperature.
Examine the crystals formed under the microscope.

A. What is the principle

involved in the mucic acid test?
Oxidation of most monosaccharides
by nitric acid yields soluble dicarboxylic
acids. However, oxidation of galactose
yields insoluble mucic acid. Lactose will
also yield a mucic acid due to
hydrolysis of glycosidic linkage between
its glucose and galactose subunits.
Being insoluble, galactosaccharide acid
crystals separate out.

b. What is the purpose of the

test?

This test is used in

the identification of
GALACTOSE.

C. What components make up

the mucic acid test?

H2O and HNO3

D. Provide the type equation

used in the test.
HC=O-(CHOH)4-COOH (aq) + 2 HNO3 (aq) -->
HOC=O-(CHOH)4-COOH (s) + H2O (l) + 2 NO2 (g)

OH

CH2OH
O

COOH
OH

HNO3
OH

OH

OH
OH

OH

COOH

When galactose is oxidized by nitric

acid, insoluble mucic acid is formed. A
positive result is the formation of a
precipitate. Lactose is a dimer of
glucose and galactose. The nitric acid
will hydrolyze the dimer and so lactose
will also give a positive result.
Galactose is converted to Saccharic
acid on heating with HNO3(a strong
oxidizing agent). Mucic acid (galactaric
acid) which is formed from galactose
due to the oxidation of both aldehyde &
primary alcoholic group at C1&C6.

E. Show the sample equation involved

in the reaction between mucic acid
reagent and your sample/s which gave
a positive result.

F(a). Provide a possible explanation

for the positive results obtained with
your samples.
F(b). Provide a possible explanation
for the negative results obtained with
your samples.

GALACTOSE

LACTOSE

GLUCOSE

G. Explain why only galactose

forms the white sandy crystals.

H. Lactose has also been known to

form crystals in the mucic acid test.
Rationalize why is this possible.

The
Nitric
Acid
first
catalyzes
hydrolysis
of
lactose to glucose and
galactose then the Nitric
acid oxidizes both of these
sugars to be tetrahydroxy
acids. Mucic acid crystallizes
out, which is a positive test.