QQ.1. Explain the following terms: mutarotation, inversion of sugar, gelatinization, retrogradation and modified starch.
- (a)) mutarotation (100 words)
- (b)) inversion of sugar (100 words)
- (c)) gelatinization (100 words)
- (d)) retrogradation (100 words)
- (e)) modified starch (100 words)
- Mutarotation: Interconversion of sugar anomers (α/β) in solution, changing optical rotation to equilibrium.
- Inversion of sugar: Hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose, inverting optical rotation.
- Gelatinization: Irreversible swelling of starch granules in hot water, increasing viscosity and forming gels.
- Retrogradation: Reassociation and recrystallization of gelatinized starch upon cooling, causing staling.
Answer: Mutarotation is the change in the optical rotation of a sugar solution over time until it reaches an equilibrium value. This phenomenon occurs because cyclic sugars in solution interconvert between their alpha (α) and beta (β) anomeric forms. For example, D-glucose can exist as α-D-glucopyranose and β-D-glucopyranose. These anomers differ in the configuration at the anomeric carbon and have distinct optical rotations. In solution, they can reversibly open to an aldehyde or ketone form and then ...