Murder and a Meal

Adapted from a lesson developed by Camron J. Stanley 2008

Key Question of the Day: Where was the murder victim’s last meal?

Ends in mind:
As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:
Categorize food items from a menu as protein, lipid, or carbohydrate
Perform lab tests to test for presence of macromolecules
Utilize lab results to deduce macromolecules present in stomach contents, therefore, determine which
restaurant a murder victim ate their last meal.

Required Materials

All students: Gloves and lab coat

Lipid test station

Test liquid (stomach contents)
Square of Kraft paper
Plastic Pasteur pipette

Protein test station

Plastic Pasteur pipette
Test liquid (stomach contents)
Biuret reagent solution

Sugar test station

Plastic Pasteur pipette
Test liquid (stomach contents)
Benedict’s solution
Bunsen burner mat
Beaker
Burner/stove to heat beaker of water
Thermometer

Starch test station

Plastic Pasteur pipette
Test liquid (stomach contents)
Lugol’s Iodine
 Station 1: Lipid Test Station
Brown paper test

What to do

1. Place 1ml of the stomach contents on a brown paper bag square.

2. Wait 10 to 15 minutes then hold the square against the light, can almost
you see through it? Compare with the positive and negative controls seen
below.

3. Record your data.

Negative lipid test Positive lipid test

 Station #2: Protein Test Station

Biuret solution

Biuret solution is used to identify the presence of protein. Biuret reagent is a

blue solution that, when it reacts with protein it will change color to pink-
purple.

What to do

1. Place 1ml of stomach contents in one test tube.

2. Add 5 drops of Biuret solution to the test tube.
3. Shake very gently to mix.
4. Note color changes. Compare to the positive and negative protein
controls below.
5. Record your data.
 Station #3: Carbohydrate (Glucose) Test Station

Benedict's solution

Benedict's solution is used to test for simple sugars, such as glucose. It is a clear blue
solution of sodium and copper salts. In the presence of simple sugars, the blue solution
changes color to green, yellow, and brick-red, depending on the amount of sugar. Orange
to red indicates a very high amount of sugar.

What to do

1. Place 1ml of the stomach contents in a test tube.

2. Add 5 drops of Benedict’s solution.

3. Place tube in 70°C water for 2 – 3 minutes.

4. Note any color change. Compare your results to the positive and negative
glucose controls below.
5. Record your data.
 Station #4: Carbohydrate (Starch) Test Station

Lugol's iodine

Lugol's iodine is used to identify the presence of starch. The solution is yellow-brown, but
when it reacts chemically with starch, a blue-black substance called iodide starch is
produced. If the stomach contents test tube sample has a blue-black substance coloring
the stomach contents will contain starch.

What to do

1. Place 1ml of stomach contents in a test tube.

2. Add 2 drops of Lugol’s solution. Carefully mix.

3. Observe any color change. If starch is present, a blue-black precipitate will form.
Compare to positive and negative controls below.

4. Record your data.