6.

5: Testing Leaves for

Starch
Page 65
Objectives

• To know that iodine solution is used to test for starch in leaves

• To know that cell membranes and chlorophyll should be dissolved before using starch

• To know that plants should be de-starched before being tested to be sure about the results of your
investigations
Testing leaves for starch
Testing leaves for starch
1. Leaf is boiled in water for about 2 minutes
Purpose: to break down the cell membranes (cell wall, cell membrane, and chloroplast membrane), to
stop the action of enzymes within the leaf, and to make it easier for ethanol and iodine to enter

2. Leaf is warmed in ethanol until it turns colorless

Purpose: to extract the chlorophyll which would mask observations (because the green chlorophyll and the
brown iodine can look black together)

3. Leaf is dipped into warm water

Purpose: to soften the brittle leaf after being put in alcohol

4. Leaf is put on white tile and iodine is added

Purpose: to show the presence or absence of starch (colors are shown against the white tile)
 Controls
• In investigations: 1. control group: has all the substances that it needs including the substance to be tested
2. experimental group: given everything it needs except for one substance that is to be tested

• Then the control and the experimental group should be treated in exactly the same way

• The differences at the end of the experiment must be because of the substance being tested

• Activities 6.3 and 6.4 that are carried to see if light and chlorophyll are needed for photosynthesis.
At the end of each investigation, test a leaf from the experimental group and a leaf from the control group to see
if they have made starch, then you can find out which substances are necessary for photosynthesis
De-starching plants
• Before doing the investigations, plants should be de-starched by leaving them in a dark cupboard for at least
24 hours so that they use their starch stores

• If plants are not de-starched before the investigation, and you found that the leaves contained starch at the
end of the investigation, you could not be sure that they had been photosynthesizing (the starch might be
made before the investigation began)