Molisch test
- noun
- /ˈmoʊlɪʃ tɛst/
- Specialized
- The Molisch test produced a distinct violet ring, confirming the presence of carbohydrates in the sample.
Examples
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A positive Molisch test indicated that the unknown solution contained a significant amount of sugar.
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The Molisch test is essential for detecting carbohydrates.
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First-year biochemistry students often learn the Molisch test as part of carbohydrate analysis.
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Have you performed the Molisch test yet?
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The Molisch test produced a distinct violet ring, confirming the presence of carbohydrates in the sample.
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First-year biochemistry students often learn the Molisch test as part of carbohydrate analysis.
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A positive Molisch test indicated that the unknown solution contained a significant amount of sugar.
Synonyms
A chemical test that shows sugars in a liquid by making a violet ring
A chemical test that shows a violet ring when sugars are present
A chemical test that shows a violet ring when sugar is in a liquid
Surface Forms
Morphology
Molisch + test
This is an eponymous term: the only transparent constituent is 'test' (a general check), while 'Molisch' is a proper name with no lexical meaning that would indicate carbohydrates. A B1 learner who knows the words would guess it is some kind of test but could not derive the specific biochemical function (detecting carbohydrates), so the expression is not compositional.
Etymology
Molisch test is named after the chemist Molisch and gives a purple ring when sugar is present in a solution. So that bright ring is the memory hook: it 'shows' that the sample 'contains carbohydrates'.