Lab: #6

Date: October 10, 2022

Topic: Plant Nutrition

Title: Testing for starch in leaves

Aim: To investigate the presence of starch in green leaves.

Apparatus: 3 Beakers, 3 boiling tubes, 3 droppers, iodine solution , petri dish, tripod stand,
hose, 3 wire gauze, bunsen burner, ethanol, forceps, 3 white tiles , glass rods, variegated
leaves, safety glasses.

PRECAUTION: Ensure the ethanol is kept away from naked flames. Students should wear
eye protection when working with ethanol or iodine solution. Take care with hot liquids. Be
aware that plant sap may irritate the skin.A gloves must be worn so iodine does not touch my
hands.

Methods:

Leaves were collected from a plant that has been exposed to sunlight .
The hose was attached to the bunsen burner and to the gas source .
The gas source was turned on while using a match to ignite the bunsen burner .
A tripod stand was placed over the bunsen burner and a wire glauze on top of the tripod
stand.
A beaker was filled with 200ml of water and allowed to boil for 2 - 3 minutes.
One of the leaves was picked and held in hot water for one minute.
Using forceps , the leaf was removed from the boiling water and noted how it had changed.
The leaf was placed into a boiling tube and pushed to the bottom with a glass rod . eye
protection was placed on.
Enough ethanol was added to cover leaf and the boiling tube was in the beaker.

Diagram:

Observation: The leaf was in the beaker for about one ( 1 )minute , the leaf was placed in a
test tube , after the leaf was taken out the water has chlorophyll,the ethanol was thrown on the
leaves then placed in the beaker with chlorophyll the variegation leaf had a lighter color than
the green leaf / the green leaf was darker than the variegated leaf . The ethanol was clear and