Yeast breathe too

Introduction

Baker's yeast is a necessary ingredient in making bread it is used as a leavening agent to make dough
rise. But did you know that a baker's yeast at is commercially available is actually living fungus? Like any
other living organisms , baker's yeast respire too. They produce energy needed for survival by digesting
sugar molecules in the presence of oxygen. As a result they produce the needed energy and as by
products, carbon dioxide, and water.

Objective

Demonstrate how baker's yeast undergoes respiration.

Materials

Water

Clear plastic bag (with resealable top)

Measuring spoon

Baker's yeast

Sugar

Graduated cylinder or beaker

Procedures

1. Boil 500 mL of water . Let it stand at temperature until it cools the temperature warm enough to be
touched with your finger (approximately 37 C - 40 C)

2. Prepare 5 plastic bags and put one teaspoon of baker's yeast into each. Label each bag as A, B, C, D,
and E.

3. Add 100 mL of warm water into each bag.

4. Add different amount of sugar in each bag as follow:

A- one teaspoon D- four teaspoons

B- two teaspoons E- no sugar

C- three teaspoons
5. Seal the bag tightly . Leave them at room temperature at warm,dry place for a day.

6. Record your observations in your worksheet

Data

Plastic bags Observation

Conclusion

Post Laboratory Questions

1. What do the bubbles in different bags represent?

2. What is the role of sugar in the experiment?

3. Predict a possible scenario if the setups were incubated in the following area:

a. Refrigerator

b. 60 degree incubator