Answer :
Hello! I'll provide reasons for the use of non-reducing sugars with hydrochloric acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate:
1. Use of hydrochloric acid:
- Hydrochloric acid is used to break down non-reducing sugars into their monosaccharide components.
- When non-reducing sugars are treated with hydrochloric acid, hydrolysis occurs, breaking the glycosidic bonds and releasing the monosaccharides.
- This process is important for analytical purposes to identify the specific monosaccharides present in the non-reducing sugar sample.
2. Use of Sodium hydrogen carbonate:
- Sodium hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate) is used to neutralize the acidic conditions created by the hydrochloric acid treatment.
- After the hydrolysis of non-reducing sugars with hydrochloric acid, the resulting solution is acidic due to the presence of hydrochloric acid.
- Adding sodium hydrogen carbonate helps in raising the pH of the solution to a more neutral level, making it safer for further chemical reactions or analysis.
In summary, hydrochloric acid is used to break down non-reducing sugars into monosaccharides, while sodium hydrogen carbonate is used to neutralize the acidic environment created during the breakdown process. These steps are essential in the analytical processes involving non-reducing sugars.