Jacob Marker Amy Yang Dean McLaughlin Section 70

Bullet Fermentation Lab Report

Introduction: This experiment is important because it further helps us understand how organisms produce energy (ATP) in anaerobic environments. We are testing that this equation accurately describes glycolysis and fermentation in yeast: C6H12O6 (glucose) + ADP + PO4 CH3CH2OH (ethanol) + CO2 + ATP We trust Mr. Randalls assertion that this equation is true. First off, this experiments testing design is credible because we are performing the experiment in an anaerobic (oxygen-lacking) environment. It is also credible because we are testing both the products and reactants. This way, we can be reasonably certain that we are putting in and getting out the substances that the fermentation equation asserts. Materials and methods: Benedicts test: Will turn orange if glucose is present, will stay blue if no glucose is present. Barium hydroxide test: White precipitate will form if CO2 is present, no precipitate will form if is CO2 is not present. Ethanol flame test: Flame will grow if the substance is ethanol; if the flame stays the same size the substance is not ethanol. Flame extinguishing test: The flame will be extinguished if the substance is CO2; if the flame is not extinguished, the substance is not CO2. Results: Benedicts test: Substance Results Pre-fermentation Turned orange Post-fermentation Turned orange Water control Stayed blue Barium hydroxide test: A white precipitate formed. Ethanol flame test: The substance amplified the flame. Flame extinguishing test: The flame was extinguished. Discussion: The results of the experiment support our hypothesis. The formation of a white precipitate and the positive result of the flame-extinguishing test indicate that CO2 was produced during the experiment. The ethanol flame test was also positive. This test suggests that ethanol was produced, but we cannot be sure of this because other substances also sustain flames. The production of CO2 and ethanol are consistent with the fermentation equation. Glucose was present both before and after the experiment as indicated by the orange result of the benedicts test. Since we used 100mL of 200x glucose instead of 100x glucose and still 1 tbsp of yeast, it is logical that the reaction would not consume all of the glucose in 45 minuets. All these findings support our hypothesis that the given equation is valid.