preview

Hydrolysis of Macromolecules Essay

Better Essays

Title: Hydrolysis of macromolecules

Abstract:
This lab was designed to teach the process of “hydrolysis”, a chemical reaction in which water is added to a polymer, breaking its bonds and forming smaller molecules. A hydrogen cation and a hydroxide anion (which once formed water) break apart and attach themselves to the ends of shorter polymers. Hydrolysis plays an important role in our lives and in the lives of every living thing on earth. Living organisms rely on digestion (hydrolysis) to convert food energy from polymers into monomers, which are easier for our cells to absorb. This study was conducted to show how polysaccharides are broken down by organisms to absorb nutrients through hydrolysis. We used different methods to …show more content…

If the solution has polysaccharides like starch, iodine will bind to starch and make a new structure that can absorb light, so we can see molecules in darker color.
Materials and methods:
Hydrolysis of Polysaccharides: (HP) 1.IKI test, Before treatment: make 1% starch and follow the IKI test for starch, water, and glucose by testing three drops of each with one drop IKI’s regent. 2.Benedict’s test before treatment: Add 10 drop of Benedict's regent to three test tubes, each including either glucose, water, or starch. The test tubes are then placed in boiling water and resulting colors are recorded. 3.After treatment for IKI TEST and Benedict’s test: Put 2ml of the 1% starch solution into the 3 test tubes (#2.#3,#4),and then add 5 drops HCl into two tubes (#3,#4). Place tube #2 and #4 into the boiling water and after 10 minutes remove both test tube from heat. Add NaOH, drop by drop to test tubes #3 and #4 to neutralize the pH. Transfer 2 drops of each to the spot plate and repeat the IKI test. Transfer 5 drops of each to the 4 new test tubes and repeat the Benedicts test. For both methods water and glucose were used as a control. These two tests show the presence

Get Access