Glucose Concentration Levels

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The purpose of this practical was to produce a calibration curve, by applying a linear dilution series, to then resolve unknown levels of glucose concentrations. Glucose is a one of the most important carbohydrates used by the human body, it allows us to carry out tasks in the day by providing energy to cells in the body. As our cells respire they produce energy as by product that we need. There are three types of carbohydrates used in the body, these include Monosaccharides being single sugar molecules containing up to seven carbon atoms which cannot be broken down into smaller groups, disaccharides these are formed by linking two monosaccharides and polysaccharides which have the largest molecular weight and are insoluble in water. Glucose is the most common example of monosaccharide (E.Simon, J.Dinkey & J.Reece 2014). As well as being the most common example monosaccharide, glucose has a chemical formula of C6H12O6 and is a reducing sugar. Glucose is a reducing sugar as it is a monosaccharide sugar that acts as a reducing agent by being able to donate electrons to other molecules that are present, it can also be oxidised by mild oxidizing agents, where the agent is reduced during the reaction (J.Daintith 2008). In the case of the experiment the oxidised substance is the glucose as it is only reducing agent present, the glucose molecules will donate electrons that will be accepted by the oxidising agent being the potassium permanganate. Because the potassium permanganate is being reduced the purple colour it displays will change into clear as the molecule is being reduced in to manganate ions. It becomes colourless as it accepts electrons from the glucose, and so going through the reducing process and becoming colourless. The equation for this reaction is; MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e- Mn2+ + 4H2O Both glucose, sulphuric acid

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