to determine the sugars within root mucilage, monosaccharide analysis and monosaccharide linkage analysis are undertaken. monosaccharide linkage analysis involves methylating the root mucilage, which contains polysaccharides. the root mucilage is hydrolysed using acid to break down the polysaccharides into their monosaccharide components. the subsistent monosaccharides are then reduced to open their rings. the open ring monosaccharides are then acetylated, and separated typically by using gas chromatography, although liquid chromatography is also used. the masses of the monosaccharides are then detected using mass spectrometry. the gas chromatography retention times and the mass spectrometry chromatogram are used to identify how the monosaccharides are linked to form the polysaccharides that make root mucilage. for monosaccharide analysis, which reveals the sugars that make root mucilage, scientists hydrolyse the root mucilage using acid, and put the samples directly through gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry.