Question

Which colorimetric test could be used to assay a person’s urine and what color change could indicated mild diabetes? biuret or benedict

Answer 1

Benedict solution. This is a test for the presence for glucose. Remember, diabetes is when there is too much glucose in a persons body and so it is present in the urine as well. Once benedict solution is added the colour changes opposite the colour spectrum depending on how much glucose is present. It changes from blue back to green to yellow all the way to orange and red as more glucose is present.


The scientific reasoning behind this is because benedict solution contains copper. Glucose tends to give electrons away and so is called a ‘reducing sugar’. The electron is given to copper and this as a result is a cause for the change in the colour of the solution.