Question

Dextrin is a
A) Polymer of glucose
B) Plasma expander
C) Use in dehydration condition
D) Both A and C

Answer 1

Hint:It is a low molecular weight carbohydrate which is produced by the hydrolysis of starch or glycogen by the help of various enzymes like atlases. It is produced in the human body during the digestion of carbohydrates. It is soluble in water and hence has various uses.

Complete Answer:
Dextrin are mixtures of polymers of D-glucose units that are linked by alpha(1,4) or alpha(1,6) glycosidic bonds. It is a low molecular weight carbohydrate produced by the hydrolysis of starch or glycogen. It is produced by various means like by the help of enzymes during digestion in humans, during melting and mashing or by applying dry heat under acidic conditions(pyrolysis or roasting).

Additional information:Dextrins are white,yellow or brown coloured powder that are partially or completely soluble in water. Most of them can be detected with iodine solution giving red colour that distinguishes between erythrodextrin and achrodextrin. British guns are formed when white and yellow dextrins from starch are roasted with little or no acid.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note:Dextrins are used as crispiness enhancers in various food processing industries for battering, coating and glazing.
->It is also used in textile industries as a finishing and coating agent to increase weight and stiffness.
->Thickening and binding agent in pharmaceutical industries
->It is used as a stabilizing agent for certain explosive metals azides like lead azide.
->It is of different types like maltodextrin , cyclodextrin , amylodextrin , beta limit dextrin, alpha limit dextrin , highly branched cyclic dextrin.