Principles of Biology

Principles of Biology : Laboratory

Lab 3 : Basic Chemistry and Biomolecules

See Lab 1 or Lab 2 for instructions on writing the lab reports and for the lab report template.
Basic Chemistry and Biomolecule Lab, including the periodic table.

Theme: This lab explored a few basic chemical properties and introduces proteins, lipids and carbohydrates though diagnostic tests.

Questions to be addressed in the analysis and conclusion section:

1. Distinguish between atoms, elements and molecules.
2. Explain the pH scale -- what is measures, how it is determined.
3. Explain how to test for these types of biomolecules and explain a positive and negative test for each case.
    a. proteins
    b. starch
    c. lipids
    d. reducing sugars (usually monosaccharides)
4. What was your unknown number and what positive tests did you observe?

Notes:
1. You will want to memorize the names and the symbols for the common elements of the human body. You will eventually come to know the atomic number and maybe the atomic mass, but recognizing the symbol and connecting it to the name of the element is critical. This won't show up in your report, but will part of Quiz 3.

2. Using the periodic table will be discussed in class. Please bring it with you for the next few weeks.

3. Please put your name and the name of your lab partner at the top of your original data sheet (and identify which is which!).

Thursday, Sept. 4, 7:00 pm