CSEC Biology Practicals Mrs Masters- Wheatley

Practical #
Background: There are different tests which can be used to detect carbohydrates, proteins
and lipids. They involve adding a reagent to a food sample which changes colour depending
on what biological molecules are present. .

Date: ________________________________
Title : Food test
Aim: To determine the nutrients present in selected storage organs

Apparatus/ Materials: test tubes, test tube racks, test tube holder, beakers, measuring
cylinders, dropping pipette, benedict’s solution, copper II sulphate, sodium
hydroxide, iodine solution, dilute hydrochloric acid, sodium hydrogen
carbonate, distilled water, ethanol , scalpel/ blade, egg, Irish potato

Safety notes
During this experiment you will be working with hazardous substances. In
case of any reagent used in this experiment come in contact with your skin or
eyes, wash the affected area immediately with lots of water. Notify your
instructor. Remember glass break easily, handle with care

Procedure:
1. Separate the albumen from an egg into a beaker
2. Peel half an irish potato and crush as much as possible.
3. Make a solution using most of the crush irish potato sample. Put the remaining crush
potato aside.
4. Repeat step 3 using the egg albumen.
5. Test the storage organ solutions for starch, protein , lipid, reducing and no-reducing
sugar (if necessary)
CSEC Biology Practicals Mrs Masters- Wheatley

Observations and Results

TABLE SHOWING VARIOUS FOOD TEST DONE AND THE RESULTS ON IRISH
POTATO AND EGG ALBUMEN
Test Colour change Inference
Starch (iodine test) Egg albumen Irish Potato Egg albumen Irish Potato
Add 2cm3 of food sample
solution to the test tube
followed by a few drops of
iodine solution
Protein (biuret test)
Add 2cm3 dilute sodium
hydroxide solution to the
same amount of food sample
solution in a test tube.
Add 1% copper II sulphate
drop wise to the test tube
shaking after each drop
Reducing sugar ( benedict’s
test)
Add 2cm3 of benedict’s
solution to 2cm3 food sample
solution in a test tube.
Heat the tube for 5 minutes
in a water bath
Lipid ( emulsion test)
Add 2cm3 ethanol to 1cm3
orange seeds in a test tube.
Shake the tube and pour the
contents in a test tube that is
half filled with water
Non- reducing sugar (if
necessary)
add a few drops of
hydrochloric acid to 2cm3 of
CSEC Biology Practicals Mrs Masters- Wheatley

food sample solution in a test

tube and heat the tube in a
water bath for 1 minute.
Add sodium
hydrogencarbonate until
effervescence stops.
Add 2cm3 benedicts solution
and shake. Heat the mixture

Conclusion
(what nutrients does each storage organ contain?)

Reflection