is lactose a reducing sugar
Sugars that can be oxidised by mild oxidising agents are called reducing sugars because the oxidising agent is reduced in the reaction. A non-reducing sugar is not oxidised by mild oxidising agents. All common monosaccharides are reducing sugars. The disaccharides maltose and lactose are reducing sugars. The disaccharide sucrose is a non-reducing sugar. Common oxidising agents used to test for the presence of a reducing sugar are: Benedict's Solution.