Rosolic acid paper, also known as Cade's reagent, is a specialized type of paper used in analytical chemistry for the detection and identification of certain organic compounds. It contains a chemical compound known as rosolic acid, which gives the paper its distinctive pink or red color.
The paper is commonly used for the qualitative analysis of reducing sugars, such as glucose, fructose, and lactose. When a reducing sugar is present in a sample, it reacts with the rosolic acid on the paper, resulting in a color change. The pink or red color is an indication of the presence of a reducing sugar.
Rosolic acid paper is particularly useful in food and beverage industries to test for the presence of sugars in various products. It is also employed in clinical settings for urine analysis, as an indicator for diabetes or other conditions affecting glucose levels.
The paper is typically made by impregnating filter paper or chromatography paper with a solution containing rosolic acid. It can be prepared in various formats, including test strips or rolls. The color change reaction usually occurs within a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the concentration of the reducing sugar.
Overall, rosolic acid paper serves as a valuable tool in qualitative analysis, providing a rapid and convenient method for detecting the presence of reducing sugars in various samples.
