Molisch's test

proper noun

A chemical test for the presence of carbohydrates, based on the dehydration of the carbohydrate by sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid to produce an aldehyde, which condenses with two molecules of phenol to produce a red or purple compound.

Similar
Molisch reactionalpha-naphthol testMolisch test
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. A chemical test for the presence of carbohydrates, based on the dehydration of the carbohydrate by sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid to produce an aldehyde, which condenses with two molecules of phenol to produce a red or purple compound.

    Synonyms: Molisch reaction

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounA chemical test for the presence of carbohydrates, based on the dehydration of the carbohydrate by sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid to produce an aldehyde, which condenses with two molecules of phenol to produce a red or purple compound.

Similar
Molisch reaction

More synonyms by meaning

nounbiochemical indicator of the presence of carbohydrates in a solution; if carbohydrates are present a violet ring is formed by reaction with alpha-naphthol in the presence of sulfuric acid

Similar
alpha-naphthol testMolisch testMolisch reaction
Broader
indicator
Also see
molisch reaction

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Named after Austrian botanist Hans Molisch.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Molisch's test. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Molisch's%20test

MLA

“Molisch's test.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Molisch's%20test. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Molisch's test,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Molisch's%20test.

Source: Molisch's test on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.