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Testing For Biological Molecules
Testing For Biological Molecules
Sugars
Method
1. Set up five test tubes containing equal volumes of distilled water, 0.1%
glucose solution, 1.0% glucose solution, 10% glucose solution and
sucrose solution.
2. Add Benedict’s solution to each tube and heat in a water bath.
Results
Conclusion
1. What does Benedict’s solution contain and what colour is it?
Benedict’s is a deep blue colour and it contains an alkaline copper(II)
sulfate
Method
1. Take a fresh sample of sucrose solution in a boiling tube and add a few
drops of hydrochloric acid.
2. Boil gently.
3. Add sodium hydrogen carbonate powder until the solution stops fizzing.
4. Test for reducing sugar as above.
Conclusions
1. Describe and explain the colour change observed during the Benedict’s
test.
A positive result (green-yellow-orange-red) indicates that non-reducing
sugar (e.g. sucrose) was present in the original sample.
2. What was the purpose of heating the sucrose solution with hydrochloric
acid?
You have to hydrolyse the bond to free up the reducing groups
3. Why was the solution neutralised before being tested with Benedict’s
solution?
Hydrogen carbonate is then added to neutralise the solution as
Benedick's reagent doesn't work under acidic conditions.
Starch
Method
1. Set up four test tubes containing equal volumes of distilled water,
0.01%, 0.1% and 1% starch solution.
2. Add a few drops of iodine in potassium iodide solution to each tube.
Results
Conclusions
1. Why was the iodine dissolved in potassium iodide solution and not in
water?
The iodine forms a triiodide ion I3- which slips into the middle of the
amylose helix
2. Explain the results of your test with reference to the shape of starch
molecules.
Longer chains yield a blue black result with iodine whereas shorter
chains give no colour change or a much less intense red purple colour
Lipids
Method
1. Pour some cooking oil into a test tube, add 1cm 3 of absolute ethanol
and shake well. Allow to settle.
2. Half fill a test tube with water and pour the ethanol from the first tube
into the water.
3. Repeat the test on distilled water.
Conclusions
1. Describe and explain your results.
A cloudy white emulsion indicates the presence of lipids. When the test is
repeated with water no emulsion will be shown.
Proteins
Method
1. Add a few drops of Biuret reagent to two test tubes, one containing
protein solution and the other containing distilled water.
2. Warm gently
Conclusions
1. What does Biuret reagent contain?
It contains sodium hydroxide and copper sulfate
3. In each of the experiments what was the purpose of carrying out the
test on distilled water?
Distilled water is used to check whether the experiment is accurate as
when you use distilled water the colour should not change as no
molecules were present.