De La Salle Lipa

College of Education, Arts and Sciences

Science Area

Name Group
ACTIVITY Section Schedule
4 Lipids
Instructor Date

ACTIVITY 4
LIPIDS

INTRODUCTION

Lipids are a heterogeneous class of naturally occurring organic substances grouped together not by the
presence of a distinguishing functional group o structural feature but rather on the basis of common solubility
properties. Lipids are plant and animal products that are all insoluble in water and highly soluble in one or more
organic solvents, such as ether, chloroform, benzene, and acetone.

The most abundant class of lipids and major components of depot or storage lipids in plant and animal
cells are the triglycerides. Triglycerides that are generally liquid at room temperature are called oils and those that
are generally solid are called fats. Lipids also include waxes which are esters of fatty acids and long chain
monohydric alcohols; phosphorous containing compounds such as phosphatides, sphingomyelin, and
cerebrosides which are readily isolated from the nervous tissues; and steroids such as cholesterol and hormones.

The degree of unsaturation in a lipid is measured by its iodine number defined as the number of grams of
iodine that would add to the double bonds present in 100 grams of the lipid. Animal fats have low iodine numbers
while vegetable oils have higher values.

OBJECTIVES
1. To observe physical properties exhibited by lipids
2. To observe chemical properties exhibited by lipids

MATERIALS
test tube (12), test tube holder, test tube rack, dropper, 5 mL pipet, aspirator, filter paper, watch glass, glass slide
(2)

REAGENTS
distilled water, linseed oil, paraffin wax, cholesterol, ethyl alcohol, ether, pentane, CCl 4, oleic acid, iodine in
chloroform, potassium bisulphate, ammoniacal silver nitrate, CHCl 3, concentrated sulfuric acid, soap solution,
cooking oil

PROCEDURE

I. Physical Properties of Lipids

A. Solubility

1. Test the solubility of linseed oil, paraffin wax, and cholesterol in the following solvents: water, ethyl
alcohol, ether, and pentane.
2. Use approximately 2 ml of the solvent and 2 drops of the lipid if liquid, or a pinch, if solid.

B. Emulsification of Fats and Oils

1. Place a few drops of linseed oil in each of a test tube and add 3 ml of hot water.
2. Add 1 ml of soap solution, shake tube vigorously. Let stand.
3. Observe and record.
 De La Salle Lipa
College of Education, Arts and Sciences
Science Area

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________Activity 4

C. Drying oils

1. On one side of a glass slide, place one drop of linseed oil and on the other side, one drop of
boiled linseed oil.
2. Set the glass slide inside the locker and examine before the end of the laboratory period. Record
observation.
3. Leave the glass slide in the locker until the next laboratory period and report any change.

II. Chemical Reactions of Lipids Used as Identification Test

A. Test for degree of unsaturation

1. If test material is a solid, dissolve a pinch in 1 ml CCl4 and if liquid, place 1 ml each.
2. Place the following test materials separately in 3 test tubes: oleic acid, cooking oil, and linseed oil.
3. Add iodine in chloroform dropwise to each tube, shaking after each addition. Count the number of
drops of iodine in chloroform needed for the appearance of the first faint persistent color of iodine.
4. As a control for the test, place 1 ml iodine in CHCl 3 in a tube to which no test material has
been added.

B. Acrolein Test

1. Place about one gram KHSO4 in a clean, dry, test tube.

2. Place a few drops of glycerol directly to the crystals of KHSO4.
3. Heat slowly at first to avoid formation of SO2 gas, then vigorously and cautiously note the odor.
4. Hold a strip of filter paper moistened with ammoniacal AgNO 3 solution over the mouth of the
tube and continue heating.
5. Repeat the test using paraffin wax, then linseed oil in place of glycerol.

C. Salkowski test (sulfuric acid test) for cholesterol

1. Dissolve a few crystals of cholesterol in 0.5 ml CHCl 3 and add 0.5 ml of concentrated
H2SO4 slowly down the side of the tube.
2. Observe the resulting color in the chloroform and acid layers.
 De La Salle Lipa
College of Education, Arts and Sciences
Science Area

____________________________________________________________________________________________________Activity 4

IV. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

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V. CONCLUSION
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QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

1. What happens chemically when a drying oil “dries”? What structural characteristics are necessary in good
drying oil?
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2. Give 2 examples of lipids that do not give positive acrolein test? Explain.
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3. Using data and results in your experiment, tell how you would distinguish between the following pairs of
substances. Give names of the tests and results expected with each substance.
a. stearic acid and cholesterol
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b. linseed oil and mineral oil
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c. lard and paraffin wax
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