Carbohydrates: Reducing End Concentration Analysis
Abstract Carbohydrates are important in metabolic processes for everyday physical and chemical actions. The carbohydrate, glucose, is a key component in generating adenosine triphosphate, also known as ATP. In order to analyze unknown glucose levels, a DNS assay was performed. By using 2-hydroxy-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid to oxidize the aldehyde group on the carbohydrate, the reducing end of glucose increases in absorbance of 540 nm. Using a UV spectrophotometer, the concentration was calculated by using a regression line of the standard curve. The experimental data concluded a 1068.912 µg/ml. With the actual concentration being 1200.000 µg/ml, a 10.924% error was deduced. Though the error is slightly high, the deviation of 134.370 µg/ml makes up for some of the error through this process; entailing DNS assay an acceptable method of calculating unknown glucose levels.
Introduction
Figure 1: Glucose. Circled Portion: Aldehyde
Figure 1: Glucose. Circled Portion: Aldehyde Carbohydrate is defined as a polyhydroxyl ketone, a polyhydroxyl aldehyde, or their derivatives. Figure 1 is an example of a carbohydrate, namely, glucose. Glucose is a prime contributor of carbon for other carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and nucleic acids. Glucose is also a main contributor to generating adenosine triphosphate through glycolysis, providing energy for chemical and everyday functions. The negative of glucose is, in high concentration, insulin pathways are blocked, causing diabetes. In order to calculate glucose levels for monitoring, a unique functional group must be observed. That being carbohydrate’s aldehyde group.
The aldehyde group helps in metabolic functions and provides a reducing agent; aldehyde group shown in Figure 1. The aldehyde group, also known as the reducing end, has the ability to undergo oxidation-reduction reactions; making glucose, an undetectable compound, detectable Figure 2: Gluconic acid. Circled Portion: Carboxylic acid
Figure 2:
Introduction
Figure 1: Glucose. Circled Portion: Aldehyde
Figure 1: Glucose. Circled Portion: Aldehyde Carbohydrate is defined as a polyhydroxyl ketone, a polyhydroxyl aldehyde, or their derivatives. Figure 1 is an example of a carbohydrate, namely, glucose. Glucose is a prime contributor of carbon for other carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and nucleic acids. Glucose is also a main contributor to generating adenosine triphosphate through glycolysis, providing energy for chemical and everyday functions. The negative of glucose is, in high concentration, insulin pathways are blocked, causing diabetes. In order to calculate glucose levels for monitoring, a unique functional group must be observed. That being carbohydrate’s aldehyde group.
The aldehyde group helps in metabolic functions and provides a reducing agent; aldehyde group shown in Figure 1. The aldehyde group, also known as the reducing end, has the ability to undergo oxidation-reduction reactions; making glucose, an undetectable compound, detectable Figure 2: Gluconic acid. Circled Portion: Carboxylic acid
Figure 2: