The purpose of the experiments conducted was to test for organic monomers and

polymers. The experiment was run because students are learning about organic molecules and
cells in biology class. Organic molecules are important to life because they help keep us alive
by storing energy, or creating cells.
When students operated an experiment to test for lipids, they took a piece of brown
paper and placed a small drop of oil and water on separate ends of the paper. Three beakers of
unknown fluid (which were labeled 1,2,and 3) were placed on the paper and labeled according
to their number. An indicator that would mean positive is when lipids make a translucent mark
after everything was evaporated and non-lipids would be opaque. Test results showed:

Contents Final color of paper (translucent or opaque)

Oil Positive

Distilled Water Negative

Unknown 1 Negative

Unknown 2 Negative

Unknown 3 Negative
Another experiment students conducted was when they tested for proteins. Five test
tubes labeled with numbers 1-5 were added with fluids. Test tube 1 was added with 2ml of
protein solution. Test tube 2 was added with 2ml of distilled water. Test tubes 3-5 were added
with the unknowns. Students recorded each of the initial colors. Then, biuret reagent was added
to each of the tubes. An indicator for a positive reaction was a purple color. Results showed:

Tube # and Contents Initial color of contents Final color of contents

Protein clear Positive

Distilled Water clear Negative

Unknown 1 clear Positive

Unknown 2 clear Negative

Unknown 3 clear Positive

Another experiment was conducted to test for reducing sugars. Test tubes labeled 1-5
were added with fluids. 1 was added with 2ml of distilled water, 2 with 2ml of glucose, and 3-5
with each of the unknown. Benedict’s reagent was added to each tube. Students recorded data
of the initial color of the contents. Then, each tube was placed in a beaker of boiling water on a
hot plate for 5 minutes, or if the color has changed. A positive indicator was that the sugars
would turn green, yellow, or brick red depending on the amount of sugar in the tube. Red is the
largest amount. Results showed:
 Tube # and Contents Initial color of contents Final color of contents

Distilled Water Light blue Negative

Glucose Light blue Positive

Unknown 1 Light blue Positive

Unknown 2 Light blue Positive

Unknown 3 Light blue Positive

The last experiment conducted was when students tested for starch. 5 wells on a spot
plate were labeled 1-5. One drop of distilled water was added to 1, starch to 2, and unknowns
were added to 3-5. Students recorded the initial color of the contents. Then, Lugol’s iodine was
added to each well. Iodine reacts within the presence of starch, it would turn from brown-yellow
to blue-black. Test results show:

Well # and Contents Initial color of contents Final color of contents

Distilled Water Clear Negative

Starch Clear Positive

Unknown 1 Clear Positive

Unknown 2 Clear Negative

Unknown 3 Clear Negative

In conclusion, the results show that water does not have any lipids, proteins, glucose, or
starch. The results also show what the unknowns are:

Unknowns Lipids Proteins Glucose Starch

1 Negative Positive Positive Positive

2 Negative Negative Positive Negative

3 Negative Positive Positive Negative

Data shows that the unknowns do not have lipids, but they all have glucose. This data can be
used to find out what product each unknown is, or if it's just a bunch of liquids poured into the
same beaker. Also, now students know how to test for organic molecules.