What’s in My Food?
You are learning about biomolecules in your biology class and think about the ingredients found on food labels and what group of biomolecules they could belong to. You find a few household ingredients and decide to test your newfound knowledge.
Objectives
- Properly identify and distinguish between the molecular structure, types of atoms, and functions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
- Properly identify the monomers and polymers of carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids and the two main components of triglycerides
- Relate the four different biomolecules to different foods. In what foods would you find carbohydrates? lipids? proteins?
- Execute sample experiments using both a positive and negative control and an unknown to properly identify carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
- Interpret results of tests for carbohydrates, lipids, proteins.
Materials
- Bags of images of monomers of carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids.
- Test tubes
- Benedict’s solution
- Biuret Reagent
- Examples of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins
- Pipettes
- Hot plate
- Centimeter Ruler