Question

Freshly prepared sucrose solution, in the presence of an acid catalyst, on warming, exhibits a change in optical activity. This is known as:

• A. misquotation.
• B. inversion.
• C. commiseration.
• D. Amdori rearrangement.

Answer 1

The correct option is B inversion.

Sucrose and glucose are dextrorotatory, while fructose is laevorotatory. Hence, during hydrolysis, the angle of rotation decreases from $+$ve value to $-$ve value, in aggregate. This is called as inversion of cane sugar.