Definition

Noun: - A biochemical indicator for carbohydrates: Molisch's test is a chemical procedure used to detect the presence of carbohydrates (like sugars or starches) in a given solution. The test is based on a color reaction where carbohydrates, when treated with specific reagents, produce a distinctive colored product.

Usage

• The test is named after the Austrian botanist Hans Molisch.
• It is a general test, meaning it gives a positive result for all types of carbohydrates, including monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
• The procedure involves adding a reagent containing alpha-naphthol and concentrated sulfuric acid to the test solution.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "To perform/conduct/run Molisch's test": This phrase describes the action of carrying out the test.
  • The protocol requires you to perform Molisch's test under a fume hood due to the use of concentrated acid.
• "A positive/negative Molisch's test": These phrases describe the result of the test.
  • The formation of the characteristic ring signifies a positive Molisch's test.

Variants and Related Words

• Molisch reaction: A synonymous term often used interchangeably with Molisch's test to describe the same chemical process.
• Alpha-naphthol test: Another name for the test, referring to one of its key reagents.

Synonyms

• General test for carbohydrates: This is a descriptive synonym highlighting the test's purpose.
• Colorimetric test for carbs: A synonym emphasizing the color-change method of detection.

Notes on Meaning

The term Molisch's test refers specifically to the entire diagnostic procedure and its observable outcome (the color change). It is a proper noun in a scientific context, named after its discoverer. The core meaning is always tied to its function as a biochemical assay for carbohydrate detection.

Noun

1. biochemical indicator of the presence of carbohydrates in a solution; if carbohydrates are present a violet ring is formed by reaction with alpha-naphthol in the presence of sulfuric acid