Yes, a hemiacetal is a type of sugar that can act as a reducing sugar.
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Gentiobiose is a reducing sugar. It contains a hemiacetal group that can be oxidized, leading to the reduction of other compounds like Benedict's reagent.
Cellulose is a non-reducing sugar because its chemical structure does not contain a free aldehyde or ketone group that can participate in a reducing reaction (such as oxidation). The beta glucose units in cellulose are linked by beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds, which do not allow for the formation of the necessary hemiacetal group for reducing properties.
When the linear form of glucose cyclizes, it forms a six-membered ring structure known as a hemiacetal. This ring structure is called a pyranose ring in the case of glucose and is commonly found in sugar molecules like glucose, fructose, and galactose.
Lactose is classed as a "reducing sugar" as it contains a aldehyde group (-CHO) which is oxidised into (-COOH) when reacted with an oxidant such as Fehling's or Benedict's reagant (alkaline conditions). A redox reaction (also known as an electron transfer reaction) occurs when the reagent is added to the reducing sugar (at 80°C) and the following reaction occurs: 2Cu(OH)2 + R-CH=O → Cu2O + R-COOH + 2H2O as you can see, the 2Cu(OH)2 becomes Cu2O and is hence reduced from Cu2+ to Cu+, making the sugar it has reacted with a 'reducing sugar' :)
Yes, dextrose is a reducing sugar.