EXPERIMENT NO.
1
Before you proceed, read carefully through the whole of Question 1 and Question 2.
Plan the use of the two hours to make sure that you finish the whole of Question 1 and Question 2.
1 Some biological molecules produce a colour change when tested with a specific reagent.
You will investigate which biological molecules are present in four solutions, S1, S2, S3, and S4.
Each solution contains one or none of the biological molecules: protein, starch, reducing sugar.
You will also investigate the contents of solution U which contains a mixture of biological molecules.
You are provided with the materials shown in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1
labelled contents hazard volume
/ cm3
C 0.15% copper sulfate none 10
solution
P 5% potassium hydroxide harmful 10
solution irritant
iodine iodine solution irritant 5
B Benedict’s solution harmful 20
irritant
S1 unknown solution none 10
S2 unknown solution none 10
S3 unknown solution none 10
S4 unknown solution none 10
U unknown mixture of none 10
biological molecules
If any solution comes into contact with your skin, wash off immediately with cold water.
It is recommended that you wear suitable eye protection.
9700/33/M/J/21
Carry out the test for protein on S1, S2, S3, and S4, using step 1 to step 9.
1. Label four test-tubes, S1, S2, S3, and S4.
2. Put 1 cm3 of S1 into the test-tube labelled S1.
3. Repeat step 2 for S2, S3, and S4.
4. Put 1 cm3 of P into each test-tube. Shake gently to mix.
5. Put 1 cm3 of C into each test-tube. Shake gently to mix.
6. Leave the test-tubes for at least 1 minute. Shake gently to mix.
7. Observe the colour in each test-tube and record your observations in (a)(iii).
8. Identify the solution or solutions (S1, S2, S3, S4) that contain protein and record this in (a)(iv).
9. Keep any test-tubes from step 8 that contain protein. Empty the test-tubes that do not contain
protein into the container labelled ‘For waste’. Rinse the empty test-tubes for use in step 10.
(a) (i) State the reagent that is used to test for reducing sugar and the colour or colours
produced if a reducing sugar is present.
reagent ..............................................
colour or colours ................................................................................................................
Describe how you will use the reagent to carry out the test for reducing sugar.
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[3]
10. Carry out the test for reducing sugar on each of the solutions using the labelled test-tubes
from step 9. You do not need to test any solutions identified as containing protein in step 8.
11. Observe the colour in each test-tube and record your observations in (a)(iii).
12. Identify the solution or solutions (S1, S2, S3, S4) that contain reducing sugar and record this
in (a)(iv).
13. Keep any test-tubes from step 12 that contain reducing sugar. Empty the test-tubes that do
not contain reducing sugar into the container labelled ‘For waste’. Rinse the empty test-tubes
for use in step 14.
(ii) State the reagent that is used to test for starch and the colour that is produced if starch is
present.
reagent ..........................................................
colour ............................................................
[1]
14. Carry out the test for starch on each of the solutions using the labelled test-tubes from
step 13. You do not need to test any solutions identified as containing protein or reducing
sugar in step 8 and step 12.
15. Observe the colour in each test-tube and record your observations in (a)(iii).
16. Identify the solution or solutions (S1, S2, S3, S4) that contain starch and record this in (a)(iv).
17. Identify the solution or solutions, if any, that do not contain protein, reducing sugar or starch.
Record this as ‘none’ in (a)(iv).
(iii) Record your observations in an appropriate table.
[4]
(iv) Identify the biological molecules present in solutions S1, S2, S3 and S4. If any solution
does not contain protein, reducing sugar or starch write the answer as 'none'.
S1 ......................................................................................................................................
S2 ......................................................................................................................................
S3 ......................................................................................................................................
S4 ......................................................................................................................................
[3]
18. Carry out the tests for protein, reducing sugar and starch using solution U.
19. Observe the colour from each test and record your observations in (a)(v).
(v) Record the colours observed for each test for U.
protein test ............................................................
reducing sugar test ................................................
starch test ..............................................................
[1]
(vi) Identify the biological molecules present in U.
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[1]
(b) A student carries out the same tests for protein, reducing sugar and starch on two unknown
solutions, Y and Z. The student also carries out the test for the presence of lipid.
(i) Describe the test for lipid and the expected observation if a lipid is present.
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observation if a lipid is present ..........................................................................................
[2]
From the observations for each test, the student concludes:
• solution Y contains protein and reducing sugar
• solution Z contains protein and lipid.
The student also carries out the test for non-reducing sugar on solution Y and on solution Z.
The student observes a positive result for the presence of a non-reducing sugar in solution Y
and in solution Z.
The student concludes that a non-reducing sugar is present in solution Y and in solution Z.
(ii) Suggest why the student’s conclusion may not be correct for solution Y.
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[1]
(iii) The student thought that the protein in solution Z could be the enzyme amylase.
Describe how the student could determine whether the protein in solution Z is amylase.
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[3]
[Total: 19]
