Name:

Lab number: 16
Topic: Skeletal System
Aim: To determine the importance of calcium to bone
Apparatus: conical flask, beaker, forceps, balance, paper towel, dilute hydrochloric acid,
chicken leg bone, scalpel

Method
Two raw bones of similar size were collected. The flesh, cartilages, etc were removed and then
weighed. The weight was recorded in the table. One bone was placed in a container with dilute
hydrochloric acid and the other in foil paper. It was left for three days after the three days the
bones were removed and rinsed in water and reweighed. The weight was placed in the table.

Title of table: A table showing the mass of bones with and without HCL, the change in their
mass, and percentage change in mass
Mass of bones(g) Calculations

Bone before HCL Bone after HCL Change in mass (g) % change in mass

13.43 9.84 3.59 26.7%

Calculations
Change in mass % change in mass
13.43 - 9.84 = 3.59 3.59 / 13.43 x 100 = 26.7%

Observation
Before the bone was placed in hydrochloric acid its mass was 13.43g and after the bone was
removed from hydrochloric acid its mass decreased to 9.84g, making it a difference of 3.59g.
Before the bone was placed in hydrochloric acid it was sturdy and strong but after it became
bendable and soft. Before the addition of the bone, the hydrochloric acid was colourless but after
the experiment was completed the hydrochloric acid had a reddish tint.

Discussion
Bones are living tissues that make up the body’s skeleton. The two principal components of
bones are collagen and calcium phosphate. Collagen is important because it is one of the most
abundant proteins in the body and it helps strengthen bones and improve skin elasticity. Calcium
phosphate is also important because it plays a role in cell adhesion and tissue formation. Calcium
provides the bone with structure and strength. An explanation for my results is that the calcium
present in the bone dissolves in the hydrochloric acid which is why the colour of the hydrochoric
acid changed at the end of the experiment, the mass of the bone decreased and why the bone
became malleable.
Sources of error - All the flesh and cartilages were not removed hence the mass was wrong.
Limitations - The amount of bone marrow
Conclusion - Calcium is very important to the bone because it provides it with structure and
strength.
Reflection - The reason why the bone lost its rigidity was because the calcium in the bone
dissolved into the hydrochloric acid which caused the bone to be soft and malleable. Also
because there was a lack of calcium the bone had a 26.7% of change in mass.
Appendices( some pictures)