Macromolecules — Lab Prep

  1. Solution Preparation
    • CAUTION: It is important to always use care when handling reagents. For example, iodine will stain clothes and skin so wear gloves, goggles, and a lab coat when using this reagent.
    • To prepare a 1 M glucose solution, begin by using a stir bar to dissolve 180.2 g of glucose in 500 mL of distilled water, increasing the volume to 1 L once the solute has dissolved in the smaller volume of solvent.
    • To prepare a 10% cornstarch solution, first use a hotplate to boil 1 L of distilled water.
    • Then make a paste with 8 g of cornstarch and 10 mL of cold water.
    • Now, dissolve the cornstarch paste into the boiling water.
    • To prepare a 10% gelatin solution, combine 1 g of gelatin powder with 1 L of distilled water.
    • Then, use the hotplate to boil the solution until the gelatin has fully dissolved, taking care not to burn it.
  2. Beaker Labeling
    • Label four beakers with the appropriate source material name and a corresponding image of the material.
    • To Beaker A add an “A: Entire Corn Plant” label and image and fill the beaker with 250 mL of the glucose solution.
    • To Beaker B add a “B: Corn Kernel” label and image and fill the beaker with 250 mL of the cornstarch solution.
    • To Beaker C add a “C: Bone” label and image and fill the beaker with 250 mL of the gelatin solution.
    • To Beaker D add a “D: Soybean” label and image and fill the beaker with 250 mL of vegetable oil.
    • Then, cover the beakers with laboratory film until the activity begins.