CARITAS DON BOSCO SCHOOL

Biñan, Laguna
AY 2018-2019
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

GENERAL BIOLOGY
LABORATORY INVESTIGATION

Name: Class # LAB INVESTIGATION #5

Gr. & Sec.: Group # Biomolecules Testing Lab:
What’s in Your Food?
Date Performed: Date submitted:

I. Introduction

Four types of carbon-based biomolecules are found in living organisms: carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins and nucleic acids. Since food consist of plant or animal materials, they are combinations of
these biomolecules, providing us with energy and building blocks necessary for life (you really are
what you eat!)

In this lab, you will test to see which biomolecules are found in common foods. You will
perform simple chemical tests with substances called indicators to detect the presence of
carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in certain foods. (An indicator is a substance that changes color
when a certain compound is present.) Each simple test includes a positive and negative control – water
and a solution containing a pure sample of a specific biomolecule.

II. Materials
Test tube and rack
Test tube clamp
Hot water bath
Paper towels
Brown paper
Iodine solution
Biuret solution
Benedict’s solution
Droppers

The following controls and unknowns will be provided. Your group is responsible for bringing in 3
other food to test.

Sugar solution Egg white Distilled water Unknown B

Starch solution Oil Unknown A

III. Hypothesis
PART 1. Predict what biomolecules you expect to find in each food
PART 2. After looking at them, predict what unknown substances A and B are.

IV. Procedures

Test Protocol: Make sure you rinse your test tubes thoroughly after each test to avoid contamination

CARBOHYDRATES: Benedict’s test for monosaccharides

1. Add 1 dropper-full of each sample to its own test tube.
2. Add 1 dropper-full of Benedict’s solution to each test tube.
3. Place the test tubes in the hot-water bath. Heat the test tube for 5 full minutes.

1
 Positive test: Benedict’s changes from blue to yellow or orange when heated in the presence of
monosaccharides. [Note: sometimes this chemical reacts with another biomolecule to form a blue or
purple color. This is NOT the reaction you are looking for in this test.]

CARBOHYDRATES: Lugol’s test for starch (polysaccharide)

1. Add 1 dropper-full of each sample to its own test tube.
2. Add 2-3 drops of Iodine to each sample.

Positive test: Lugol’s Iodine changes from brown to blue or black in the presence of starch

LIPIDS: Brown paper test

1. Tear 10 small squares from a piece of brown paper. Write the name of one test substance on each.
2. Add 1-2 drops of each solution to the paper and rub the solution until a “wet” spot appears on the
paper. With a paper towel, rub off any excess food that may stick to the paper.
3. Set the paper aside to dry, about 10 minutes.

Positive test: Hold paper to the light. A translucent spot indicates the presence of lipids.

PROTEINS: Biuret Test

1. Add 1 dropper-full of each sample to its own test tube.
2. Add 1 dropper-full of Biuret reagent to each test tube.

Positive test: Biuret is clear/blue in the absence of protein and purple in the presence of protein.

IV. Data
A B C D
Monosaccharide Polysaccharid Lipid Test Protein Test
Sample Test e Test
Benedic Glucos Iodin Starc Translusce Lipi Biure Protei
t color e (+/-) e h nt (Y / N) d t n (+/-)
color (+/-) (+/-) color
1. Sugar
solution
2. Starch
solution
3. Oil

4. Egg white

5. Distilled
water
6. Oatmeal

7. Orange Jam

8. Fish
crackers
9. Unknown A

10. Unknown B

V. Analysis

PART 1:
a. Which substances contain proteins? What is your evidence?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2
 b. Which substances contain lipids? What is your evidence?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

c. Which substances contain simple sugars? What is your evidence?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

d. Which substances contain polysaccharides? What is your evidence?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

PART 2:
a. What organic compounds are present in Unknown A and what is your evidence?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

b. What organic compounds are present in Unknown B and what is your evidence?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

PART 3:
a. What was the positive control sample for each test?
Monosaccharides: ___________________
Polysaccharides: ____________________
Lipids: _______________________
Protein: ______________________

b. Why is it important to have controls in an experiment like this?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

c. Were there any sources of error? If so, explain how they could have influenced your data. Think
about any results you got that might not make sense.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

PART 4:
What are unknown substances A and B?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________