Lab

Name: __________________________________

Date: __________

Section: _______________

Prof. ____________________
TEST FOR NUTRIENTS

Introduction:
All living things require energy and raw materials for life functions and to maintain homeostasis. Plants
are able to make their own food from substances in the environment, but heterotrophs get all their raw
materials in the foods they eat. Substances in food that can be used by an organism for energy or for growth
and repair are called nutrients.
Nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins. Cell of all organisms are
composed of these nutrients and water. There are several chemical tests that can be used to determine which
nutrients, if any, are present in a substance. You will use some of these tests in this activity.
Objectives:
1. Learn how to test substances for the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
2. Perform nutrients tests on several foods to determine which nutrients are present.
3. Identify the nutrients in the food that we usually eat.
Materials:
Lugols Solution (Iodine
Solution)
Benedicts Solution
Biurets Solution: 10% NaOH
10% CuSO4
Alcohol Lamp
Match
Test tubes

Test tube rack

Test tube brush
Test tube holder
Medicine dropper
Knife
Oil film paper
Spot plate
Food Sample:
Honey

Bread
Apple
Peanut butter
Milk
Fish (cooked)
Egg white (cooked)
Beans (cooked)
Chicken (cooked)

Procedure
1. Place a small amount of crumbled bread in a spot plate. Add drops of Lugols solution. If the mixture
turns blue-black, it means that the food sample is positive to starch. Record your result at the table
below. Repeat this test for each food sample.
2. Rub a small amount of peanut butter in the oil-film paper. Hold the paper up to the light. Let the paper
dry. A spot that lets light pass through, it is a positive test for fats. Record your result. Repeat this test
for each food sample.
3. Place a small amount of crumbled egg white in a spot plate. Add drops of Biuret solution (equal drops
of 10% NaOH and 10% CuSO4). If the mixture turns violet, it means the sample is positive to protein.
Record your result. Repeat this test for each food sample.
4. Place a small amount of honey in a test tube. Fill the test tube one0third full of Benedicts Solution.
Under your instructors supervision, light the alcohol lamp. Hold the test tube with the use of the test
tube holder so that the mouth of the tube is turned away from anyones face or hands. Move the test
tube in the test tube rack. If a green, yellow, orange or brick-red color appears, then the food sample is
positive for simple sugar. Repeat this test for the rest of the food samples.

Observations
For each positive test put a check on the table and make a cross mark for negative results.
FOOD SAMPLE
Honey
Bread
Apple
Peanut Butter
Milk
Fish
Egg white
Chicken
Beans

SUGAR

STARCH

PROTEIN

FATS

Analysis and Interpretation

1. Give the importance of the following nutrients in our body:
Protein-_________________________________________________________________________________
Sugar- _________________________________________________________________________________
Carbohydrates- __________________________________________________________________________
Fats- __________________________________________________________________________________
2. What will happen if we lack certain nutrients in our diet?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the best way for people to get the nutrients that they need?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
EVALUATION
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________