Benedict’s test is used as a simple test for reducing sugars. A reducing sugar is a carbohydrate possessing either a free aldehyde or free ketone functional group as part of its molecular structure.   This includes all monosaccharides (eg. glucose, fructose, galactose) and many disaccharides, including lactose and maltose.

Benedict’s test is most commonly used to test for the presence of glucose in urine. Glucose found to be present in urine is an indication of Diabetes mellitus.

Principle of Benedict’s Test

Reducing sugars under alkaline condition tautomerise and form enediols. Enediols are powerful reducing agents. They can reduce cupric ions (Cu2+) to cuprous form (Cu+), which is responsible for the change in color of the reaction mixture.

This is the basis of Benedict’s test. When the conditions are carefully controlled, the colouration developed and the amount of precipitate formed (Cuprous oxide) depends upon the amount of reducing sugars present.

Benedict's-Test

Composition and Preparation of Benedict’s reagent

One litre of Benedict’s Solution can be prepared from 100 g of anhydrous sodium carbonate, 173 g of sodium citrate and 17.3 g of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate.

ConstitutentAmountFunctions
Copper sulphate17.3 gmFurnishes cupric ions (Cu++)
Sodium carbonate100 gmMakes medium alkaline
Sodium citrate173 gmComplexes with the copper (II) ions so that they do not deteriorate to copper(I) ions during storage
Distilled waterUpto 1000 mlSolvent

Quality Checking : Benedict’s solution is blue in color. In order to check purity of Benedict’s solution take 5 ml of Benedict’s solution in test tube and heat it. If is does not change color, it means it is pure.

Procedure of Benedict’s Test

  1. Pipette 5 ml of Benedict’s reagent in a test tube (20x150mm).
  2. Add 8 drops of urine to the Benedict’s reagent.
  3. Heat carefully on a flame of a gas burner or place in a boiling water for 5-10 minutes.
  4. Cool under tap water or by placing in a beaker containing tap water.
  5. Observe the color change and precipitate formation and analyse the test result.

Result Interpretation of Benedict’s Test

Benedict's Test


The colour of the mixture serves as a guide to the amount of sugar in the urine. Remove the tubes and examine the solution in each tube for precipitate and change of colour. Report the sugar concentration as follows:

ColorApproximate glucose mg/dlIndication
Blue solutionNil 
Green solution<500 mg/dl Trace
Green ppt500-1000 mg/dl+
Yellow ppt1000-1500 mg/dl++
Orange ppt1500-2000 mg/dl+++
Red to Brick red ppt>2000 mg/dl++++

Factors affecting Benedict’s Test

False positive reactions may also be obtained if certain drugs are present, e.g. salicylates, penicillin, streptomycin, isoniazid, and p-aminosalicyclic acid.

Chemicals present in a concentrated urine which may reduce Benedict’s reaction include creatinine, urate, and ascorbic acid (reduction is slight).

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