After soaking for one hour in a solution of unknown concentration, a slice of potato appears to be very soft and limp. You can determine that the solution is

Choice A rationale: Iodine is a chemical element that forms a brown solution of iodine and potassium iodide, known as iodine solution. When this solution is added to a sample that contains starch, it forms a complex with the starch molecules, which changes the color of the solution to blue-black. This is based on the fact that starch is a polysaccharide that has a helical structure, which can trap the iodine molecules inside. ²

Choice B rationale: Biuret is a chemical compound that forms a blue solution of copper (II) sulfate and sodium hydroxide, known as biuret reagent. When this reagent is added to a sample that contains proteins or peptides, it forms a complex with the copper (II) ions, which changes the color of the solution to violet or pink. This is based on the fact that proteins and peptides have peptide bonds, which have nitrogen atoms that can coordinate with the copper (II) ions. ³

Choice C rationale: Benedict's is a chemical compound that forms a blue solution of copper (II) sulfate, sodium carbonate, and sodium citrate, known as Benedict's reagent. When this reagent is heated with a sample that contains reducing sugars, such as glucose or maltose, it reduces the copper (II) ions to copper (I) ions, which form a red, orange, or green precipitate of copper (I) oxide. This is based on the fact that reducing sugars have free aldehyde or ketone groups that can donate electrons to the copper (II) ions. ⁴

Choice D rationale: Phenol red is a chemical compound that forms a red solution that is used as a pH indicator. When this solution is added to a sample that has an acidic or neutral pH, it remains red or turns yellow. When this solution is added to a sample that has an alkaline pH, it turns pink or fuchsia. This is based on the fact that phenol red has a sulfonated hydroxyquinone group that can lose or gain protons depending on the pH of the solution. ⁵

Choice E rationale: Sudan IV is a chemical compound that forms a red powder that is used as a stain for lipids. When this powder is dissolved in a solvent and added to a sample that contains lipids, such as fats or oils, it dissolves in the lipids and stains them red. When this solution is added to a sample that does not contain lipids, it remains in the solvent and does not stain the sample. This is based on the fact that Sudan IV is a nonpolar compound that can dissolve in nonpolar substances like lipids, but not in polar substances like water. ⁶.

Choice A rationale: Sudan IV is a stain used to stain lipids. It is a red powder that dissolves in lipids and stains them red, but does not react with sugars. ¹

Choice B rationale: Benedict's is a reagent used to test for reducing sugars. It is a blue solution of copper (II) sulfate, sodium carbonate, and sodium citrate that reduces the copper (II) ions to copper (I) ions when heated with a reducing sugar, forming a red, orange, or green precipitate of copper (I) oxide. ⁴

Choice C rationale: Biuret is a reagent used to test for proteins and polypeptides. It is a blue solution of copper (II) sulfate and sodium hydroxide that forms a violet or pink complex with the peptide bonds in proteins or peptides. ⁸

Choice D rationale: Phenol red is a pH indicator. It is a red solution that changes color from yellow to red over the pH range 6.8 to 8.2, and from pink to fuchsia over 8.2 to 10.0. It does not react with sugars. ¹¹

Choice E rationale: Iodine is a reagent used to test for starch. It is a brown solution of iodine and potassium iodide that forms a blue-black complex with the starch molecules. It does not react with simple sugars. ¹⁴