What is a reducing sugar?

A reducing sugar is a sugar that can act as a reducing agent because it contains a free aldehyde group or ketone group. These sugars can donate electrons and reduce certain chemical compounds, such as Benedict's or Fehling's solution.

Examples of reducing sugars:

• Glucose

• Fructose

• Lactose

• Maltose

Non-reducing sugar: Sucrose is a common example because it does not have a free reactive group.

Reducing sugars are important in biology and chemistry because they participate in many metabolic and chemical reactions.