EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION 10.2 How can we investigate if protein is present in food?
Equipment 4 test tubes Dropper Test tube rack Biuret reagent solution
Suggested substances to test Water Bread
Milk Vegetable oil
Method 1. Label four test tubes as follows: ‘Water (control)’, ‘Bread’, ‘Milk’, ‘Vegetable oil’. 2. Add 2 cm3
food to the appropriately labelled test tube. 3. Add 2 cm3 of Biuret reagent solution to each test tube. Swirl carefully for 5–10 seconds.
4. Stand all four test tubes in a test tube rack for approximately 5 minutes. Observe any colour changes. A positive test for protein will show a colour change to purple.
5. Record your results.
SAFETY • Do not eat any of the food being tested.
of water to the test tube labelled ‘Water (control)’ and then add 2 cm3
of the correct
)Fig. 10.6 Biuret reagent turns purple on contact with protein
j Go to page 25 of your Experimental Investigations Log to write up this investigation.