Identifying different nutrients using food tests:

Identifying different nutrients using food tests:

Background Information: Derived from Biology Online, reducing sugars are a type of sugar that have
the ability to donate an electron to other molecules. All monosaccharides, such as glucose, fructose, and
galactose, are reducing sugars. Furthermore, lactose and maltose also reduce sugars.

As explained by Biology Online. Starch (C₆H₁₀O₅) is a complex carbohydrate. Starch is made out of
several glucose monomers bonded together by glycosidic bonds, which makes it a polysaccharide. For
humans, starch is a source of glucose (used in metabolism).

Based on MedlinePlus, proteins do most of the work in the cell. Proteins are essential for the regulation,
structure, and function of the body’s tissues. Different proteins have different functions. Proteins are made
out of polypeptides which are in turn made out of amino acids, joined by peptide bonds(Biology Online).
The sequence of amino acids determines the function and structure of the protein (Luna 9).

Based on Cleveland Clinic, lipids are fatty compounds that have a variety of functions in the body.
Certain lipids can transport and store energy, send messages in cells, or metabolize to create energy.
Those macromolecules are made out of monomers. Those monomers are glycerol and 3 fatty acids.

As per Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Benedict’s test is a chemical test that detects reducing sugars in a
sample. When a reducing sugar is heated with an alkali, it is converted into an enediol, which is a
powerful reducing agent. This causes the cupric ions (Cu²⁺) in Benedict’s reagent to be reduced to
cuprous ions (Cu⁺). The cuprous ions then form copper(I) oxide, which precipitates as a brick-red
compound. When the solution turns into a brick-red compound, is it a sign that there was a presence of
reducing sugars in the sample?

According to Biology Online, the iodine test allows one to detect the presence of starch in a sample.
When the brown IKI solution is in contact with water, the potassium iodide dissociates from the iodine,
which leads to the formation of polyiodides (they are negatively charged). Once the polyimides come in
contact with amylase (found in starch), they fit into the amylase helix, which turns the solution blue-
black.

In summary, based on Biology online, a biuret test is able to test for proteins, as the copper (II) is able to
bind to the nitrogen atoms present in the protein peptides. This complex is from a substance that absorbs
more light, making it appear violet.

According to Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Sudan III is a red dye that colors nonpolar substances such
as oils or fats. In the Sudan III test, the red dye colors only the lipids in the sample, dyeing it red.

Banana contains fructose, Potato contains starch, egg albumin contains proteins, and coconut oil contains
lipids. To test, and be certain, that those foods do contain those macromolecules, they will be tested.
Benedict’s test will be used for bananas, the Iodine test will be used to determine if there is starch in
potatoes, the Biuret test will test for the protein presence in egg albumin, and the Sudan II test will test for
lipids in coconut oil.

Material List:

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 1) Glassware: 4 15cm3 Testubes (±0.1 cm3), 250 cm3 Beaker (±5cm3), 4 25cm3 Dropper pipettes
(±0.2 cm3), burner, Test Tube rack
2) Reagents: Benedict’s solution, Iodine Solution, Sudan III solution, NaOH solution, CUSO 4
solution
3) Food Sample: 5cm3 of Banana extract (for Benedict’s test), 5cm3 Potato Extrat (for Iodine
Test), 5 cm3 of Egg albumin (for Biuret test), 5cm3 Coconut oil ( for Sudan III test)
4) Safety Items: Gloves, Goggles

Methods:

Because the experimentation is an online simulation is the reason why mentions of other factors are not as
controlled as in a real-life experiment.

- Benedict’s Test:
1) Go to https://www.olabs.edu.in/?sub=79&brch=17&sim=205&cnt=4 . Select: carbohydrates,
glucose, Benedict’s Test
2) Take the pipet out of Benedict’s solution, and over the Banana Extract (5cm 3) to release 10
drops. Then, take that test tube, and place in the heated (75°C) beaker. And wait for a bit
3) Wait for the test tube to float itself out, and recode the color.
- Iodine test:
1) Go to https://www.olabs.edu.in/?sub=79&brch=17&sim=205&cnt=4 . Select: carbohydrates,
starch, iodine test
2) Take the pipet out of the “iodine” bottle, and place it over the Potato Extract test tube (5cm 3)
to release a few drops. Record the color.
- Biuret Test:
1) Go to https://www.olabs.edu.in/?sub=79&brch=17&sim=205&cnt=4 . Select: proteins, biuret
test
2) Drag the pipet from the NaOH (1cm3) bottle over the Egg Albunim test tube (2cm3) . Then
do the same for the Cuso4 (5cm3). Record the color change
- Sudan III:
1) Go to https://www.olabs.edu.in/?sub=79&brch=17&sim=205&cnt=4 . Select: fats, Sudan III
2) Drag the pipet from the Sudan III and drop 3 drops it into the Coconut oil test tube (5cm 3) .
Then drag the test tube upwards and release it. After it has been shaken, observe if it a
positive test by seeing if there are red dots. Recode what you see

Data Table:

Test Trial # Food Initial Final Color Result Data Interpretation

performed sample Color

Benedicts’s #1 Banana Yellow brick-red positive Overall, The same result is happening.
test Extract Banana extract continuously has a positive
result when tested for reducing sugar by
Benedict’s Test. This trend assures the fact
that Banana Extract has reduced sugars in it.

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 This is known due to the color change, from
yellow to brick-red.

#2 Banana Yellow brick-red positive

Extract

#3 Banana Yellow brick-red positive

Extract

Iodine test #1 Potato Yellow blue-black positive Potato extract tested positive for starch with
Extract iodine test, in all 3 trials. This means it
contains starch. We know the test is
positive, because the color of the sample
changed from yellow to blue-black.

#2 Potato Yellow blue-black positive

Extract

#3 Potato Yellow blue-black positive

Extract

Biuret Test #1 Egg Gray- Purple positive Egg albumin also was tested all positive by
Albumin White the Biuret test. This means that the food
sample contained proteins. This is known
because the sample went from gray-white to
purple, which was due to the solution’s
reaction with starch.

#2 Egg Gray- Purple positive

Albumin White

#3 Egg Gray- Purple positive

Albumin White

Sudan III #1 Coconut Transpar Transparent positive Coconut Oil was tested using the Sudan III.
test Oil ent dotted in red And because there was an apparent red
dotted pattern in the sample after
introducing the Sudan II solution. Which
means that the oil contains lipids, Sudan III
only dies lipids.

#2 Coconut Transpar Transparent positive

Oil ent dotted in red

#3 Coconut Transpar Transparent positive

Oil ent dotted in red

Data Interpretation: As expected, all the food samples tested positive for their respective test. That was
because all of the food samples chosen contained the macromolecules that were tested for.

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 Throughout the experiment, all food samples tested positive for their macromolecules, as indicated by
consistent color changes. For example, in the Biuret test, egg albumin turned from gray-white to purple
due to copper binding with nitrogen in peptide bonds. This makes sense as egg albumin is known to
contain protein, which is why it tested positive.

The consistency of the results assures the tests' reliability. As shown in the data, banana extract tested
positive with Benedict’s test because reducing sugars reduced cupric ions to copper(I) oxide, producing a
brick-red color. This supports the scientific accuracy of each test. Bananas do have reducing sugars, it has
fructose in it, which is the reason why it got tested positive.

Similarly, the Iodine and Sudan III tests confirmed starch and lipids in potato extract and coconut oil,
respectively. The iodine test turned blue-black as polyiodides fit into the amylase helix, while Sudan III
selectively stained lipids red, confirming coconut oil's lipid content. Potato does contain starch (and thus
amylase), while coconut contains lipids. This explains why they tested positive for the Iodine Test and
Sudan III test.

Improvements:

Improvement Part of the method affected Specification

Have a more precise Observing the color of the Since the test was conducted online, accurately interpreting color
color reading test tube changes was impossible. However using a colorimeter would
provide precise quantitative data on the concentration of the
macromolecule tested, which would have improved accuracy and
reliability across trials.

A larger variety of The Food sample used To be able to improve the reliability of the test, there should have
food samples been a larger variety of food samples. This way, we could have
made sure the test was testing its respective macromolecule and was
not actually based on another compound, for example, water. By
having a range of food samples to use, this doubt would be
eliminated because it would eliminate outside factors.

Micropipette could Using the pipette to deliver The puppets were not precise, as in the method, it was most often
have been used the solution to the sample measured in props. Drops can vary in size. The uncontrolled sizes
can lead to the unsaturation or the oversaturation of the solution in
the sample. And could give different results (change in color)This
means that the amount of the solution was not controlled, which
could lead to unreliability in the experiments. With the use of
micropipettes, the quantity of the solution would be been better
controlled, and hence, the results would have been more reliable.

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 WORK CITED;

https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/howgeneswork/protein/

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1657s0JgNhHQgskZbN3ScwASIr__NJPa7ywazS1IFZl8/
edit#slide=id.g28ee80de0fc_0_17

https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/starch

https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/reducing-sugar

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https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1657s0JgNhHQgskZbN3ScwASIr__NJPa7ywazS1IFZl8/
edit#slide=id.g28ee80de0fc_0_22

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24425-lipids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13H1urX3gxI

https://www.mlsu.ac.in/econtents/1850_Benedict%20test.pdf

https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/iodine-test

https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/biuret-test

https://www.mlsu.ac.in/econtents/1849_Sudan%20III%20(1).pdf