PRACTICAL Name:

31 Bones
You need:
■ chicken leg bones ■ dilute hydrochloric acid ■ metre rule
■ safety goggles ■ masses and mass hangers ■ tongs
■ retort stands and clamps ■ Bunsen burner

Investigating bone structure Rabbit skeleton

Bone contains minerals (mainly calcium

compounds) and organic fibres. What is the
function of these parts?
1 Obtain two small bones (e.g. chicken leg
bones). Remove the minerals from one bone
by soaking it in dilute hydrochloric acid for
24 hours. Soak another bone in water for the
same time (the control).
2 Pour away the acid, wash the bone and try
to bend it. Compare it with the bone soaked
in water. What do your observations tell you
about the functions of minerals and organic
fibres in bones?
3 Remove the organic fibres from another small
bone by holding it (with tongs) in a hot Bunsen
burner flame for a few minutes in a fume
cupboard.
4 When it is cool, try to crush the burnt end with
a pencil or stick. What do your observations
tell you about the functions of organic fibres in
bones?
Why are backbones arched?
Look at the skeleton of a rabbit or other
four-legged animal and note the shape of its
backbone. Is there an advantage in having an
arched backbone?
1 Support a metre rule (or strip of wood) on
chair backs or clamp stands so that each end
overlaps the support by 1 cm. Attach weights
to its centre until it bends and falls off the
supports.
2 Place a metre rule between two supports in
such a way that when the supports are moved
towards each other the rule arches upwards
slightly.
3 Attach weights to its centre as before. What
do your results tell you about the advantage of
having an arched backbone?

HAZARD WARNING

Your teacher will be looking for: Hydrochloric acid is harmful.

Avoid skin contact. WEAR
■ careful and safe use of the apparatus given
EYE PROTECTION. When
■ accurate observation breaking the burnt bones
■ good presentation of results WEAR EYE PROTECTION and
■ sensible conclusions use a safety screen.

© OUP: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute