Name: Jovan Paul G.

Delda CHEM 104A Lab Schedule: 12:00 – 4:00 PM M-F

Course & Year: BSN 1 – A Name of Lab Instructor: Jemimah Joy Guarin

ELEMENTARY COMPOSITION OF PROTEINS

Activity No. 6

I. PURPOSE: To identify the elements present in proteins

II. APPARATUS: Bunsen burner, test tubes, mortar & pestle, test tube holder
beaker (250 ml)

III. MATERIALS: Pinch of: casein & soda lime

Litmus paper, dilute HCl, 0.1 N BaCl2 solution, conc. nitric
acid, drops of ammonium molybdate

IV. PROCEDURE:

1. Carbon and Hydrogen:

Place a small amount of casein in a test tube. Heat it gently over a low flame.
Observe the two substances formed within the tube.

The casein was burned, turning it black and causing a hazy formation and
moisture to collect in the test tube.

What does the charring of casein and the formation of moisture in the test tube
indicate?

While the production of moisture denotes the presence and removal of hydrogen from
the solid, the charring of casein denotes the presence and removal of carbon.

2. Nitrogen:

Mix 1 gram of soda lime and a piece of casein (mongo bean size) in a mortar and
mix. Transfer the mixture to a dry test tube and heat slowly and cautiously. Expose a
piece of moist red litmus paper to the vapors.

Red litmus paper will change to blue litmus paper or turn blue in hue when exposed to
the vapor of the combination in the test tube. Ammonia (NH3), the urine-like odor
signifies the presence of nitrogen.
What gas turned the moistened litmus to blue? AMMONIA GAS

FUSION: Perform the tests for sulfur and phosphorus on the fused mixture prepared as
follows: Place about 2 grams of solid fusion mixture (2 parts Na2CO3: 1 part KNO3) in a
porcelain crucible. Add a small amount of powdered casein and mix thoroughly. Heat
slowly at the start and then strongly, until a clear mixture is formed. Cool and dissolve
with a small amount of warm water and filter. Divide the filtrate into two parts.

3. Sulfur:
Add dilute HCl to the portion of the above filtrate until acidic. Heat the solution to
boiling and add several drops of 0.1 N BaCl2 solutions.
Explain: The solution becomes somewhat murky after the addition of barium chloride.
The test tube changed the hue to yellow and contains tiny black particles. It develops or
goes through the precipitation process. The solution was cloudy and then as it rests it
became clearer gradually.

Write the equation involved:

BaCl2 + H2SO4 → BaSO4 + 2HCl

4. Phosphorus:

Take a second portion of the filtrate and add concentrated nitric acid drop wise
until acidic. Add a few drops of ammonium molybdate solution and heat nearly to boiling.

The addition of the ammonium molybdate initiates a precipitation process in the

solution or combination.

What is the precipitate formed?

Ammonium phosphomolybdate is the precipitation that forms.

Write the equations involved:

PO43- + 3NH4 + 12MoO42- + 24H+ → (NH4)3 PO4 (MoO3)12 + 12H2O