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GCSE Biology Food Tests - AQA & Edexcel! (Protein, Starch, Sugars, Lipids)

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✨Zara✨

22/10/2023

Biology

Food test practices (NEED TO KNOW FOR GCSE’s)

GCSE Biology Food Tests - AQA & Edexcel! (Protein, Starch, Sugars, Lipids)

Food tests are essential practical experiments in GCSE Biology, particularly for AQA and Edexcel exam boards. These tests help identify the presence of key macromolecules in food samples. The main food tests covered include Benedict's test for reducing sugars, iodine test for starch, Biuret test for proteins, and Sudan III test for lipids. Edexcel also includes an exclusive emulsion test for lipids.

Key points:

  • Food samples need to be prepared by crushing, dissolving in water, and filtering.
  • Each test involves specific reagents and procedures.
  • Results are observed through color changes or other visible reactions.
  • These tests are crucial for understanding the composition of different foods and their nutritional value.
...

22/10/2023

397

Food tests practicles:
4 Benedict's test (sugars).
4
lodine test (starch).
Biure+ test (proteins).
"Sudan 3 test (lipids) also emulsion test

View

Starch and Protein Tests

This page covers the iodine test for starch and the Biuret test for proteins.

Iodine test for starch:

  1. Add 5cm³ of food sample to a test tube
  2. Add a few drops of iodine solution
  3. Shake gently
  4. A color change from brown-orange to blue-black indicates the presence of starch

Definition: Starch is a complex carbohydrate made up of many glucose molecules linked together.

Biuret test for proteins:

  1. Add 2cm³ of food sample to a test tube
  2. Add 2cm³ of Biuret solution
  3. Shake gently
  4. A color change from blue to pink or purple indicates the presence of proteins

Highlight: For Edexcel, the Biuret test involves adding potassium hydroxide followed by copper sulfate instead of directly adding Biuret solution.

Sudan III test for lipids:

  1. Add 5cm³ of unfiltered food sample to a test tube
  2. Add 3 drops of Sudan III stain solution
  3. Shake gently
  4. A bright red layer at the top indicates the presence of lipids

Vocabulary: Lipids are a group of organic compounds that includes fats and oils.

Food tests practicles:
4 Benedict's test (sugars).
4
lodine test (starch).
Biure+ test (proteins).
"Sudan 3 test (lipids) also emulsion test

View

Edexcel Exclusive: Emulsion Test for Lipids

This page details the emulsion test for lipids, which is exclusive to the Edexcel exam board.

Emulsion test procedure:

  1. Take a food sample in a test tube
  2. Add 2cm³ of ethanol
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Add 2cm³ of distilled water
  5. A cloudy white color indicates the presence of lipids

Definition: An emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible unmixableorunblendableunmixable or unblendable.

Highlight: The emulsion test is a more sensitive method for detecting lipids compared to the Sudan III test.

This test is particularly useful for detecting small amounts of lipids in food samples. The cloudy appearance is due to the formation of tiny lipid droplets suspended in the water-ethanol mixture.

Example: In everyday life, milk is an example of a natural emulsion where fat globules are suspended in water.

Understanding these food test practicals is crucial for success in GCSE Biology exams, particularly for questions related to biochemistry and nutrition. These tests provide a hands-on approach to learning about the chemical composition of foods and are essential skills for future studies in biology and related fields.

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Biology

397

22 Oct 2023

3 pages

GCSE Biology Food Tests - AQA & Edexcel! (Protein, Starch, Sugars, Lipids)

user profile picture

✨Zara✨

@zara_miah19

Food tests are essential practical experiments in GCSE Biology, particularly for AQA and Edexcelexam boards. These tests help identify the presence of key macromolecules in food samples. The main food tests covered include Benedict's test for reducing sugars,... Show more

Food tests practicles:
4 Benedict's test (sugars).
4
lodine test (starch).
Biure+ test (proteins).
"Sudan 3 test (lipids) also emulsion test

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Starch and Protein Tests

This page covers the iodine test for starch and the Biuret test for proteins.

Iodine test for starch:

  1. Add 5cm³ of food sample to a test tube
  2. Add a few drops of iodine solution
  3. Shake gently
  4. A color change from brown-orange to blue-black indicates the presence of starch

Definition: Starch is a complex carbohydrate made up of many glucose molecules linked together.

Biuret test for proteins:

  1. Add 2cm³ of food sample to a test tube
  2. Add 2cm³ of Biuret solution
  3. Shake gently
  4. A color change from blue to pink or purple indicates the presence of proteins

Highlight: For Edexcel, the Biuret test involves adding potassium hydroxide followed by copper sulfate instead of directly adding Biuret solution.

Sudan III test for lipids:

  1. Add 5cm³ of unfiltered food sample to a test tube
  2. Add 3 drops of Sudan III stain solution
  3. Shake gently
  4. A bright red layer at the top indicates the presence of lipids

Vocabulary: Lipids are a group of organic compounds that includes fats and oils.

Food tests practicles:
4 Benedict's test (sugars).
4
lodine test (starch).
Biure+ test (proteins).
"Sudan 3 test (lipids) also emulsion test

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Edexcel Exclusive: Emulsion Test for Lipids

This page details the emulsion test for lipids, which is exclusive to the Edexcel exam board.

Emulsion test procedure:

  1. Take a food sample in a test tube
  2. Add 2cm³ of ethanol
  3. Shake vigorously
  4. Add 2cm³ of distilled water
  5. A cloudy white color indicates the presence of lipids

Definition: An emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible unmixableorunblendableunmixable or unblendable.

Highlight: The emulsion test is a more sensitive method for detecting lipids compared to the Sudan III test.

This test is particularly useful for detecting small amounts of lipids in food samples. The cloudy appearance is due to the formation of tiny lipid droplets suspended in the water-ethanol mixture.

Example: In everyday life, milk is an example of a natural emulsion where fat globules are suspended in water.

Understanding these food test practicals is crucial for success in GCSE Biology exams, particularly for questions related to biochemistry and nutrition. These tests provide a hands-on approach to learning about the chemical composition of foods and are essential skills for future studies in biology and related fields.

Food tests practicles:
4 Benedict's test (sugars).
4
lodine test (starch).
Biure+ test (proteins).
"Sudan 3 test (lipids) also emulsion test

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Food Tests Practicals Overview

This page introduces the four main food tests used in GCSE Biology practicals:

  1. Benedict's test for sugars
  2. Iodine test for starch
  3. Biuret test for proteins
  4. Sudan III test for lipids withanadditionalemulsiontestforEdexcelwith an additional emulsion test for Edexcel

The common factor among these tests is the need to prepare food samples properly. This involves:

  1. Breaking up the food using a mortar and pestle
  2. Dissolving the crushed food in distilled water
  3. Filtering the solution to remove solid particles

Highlight: Proper sample preparation is crucial for accurate test results in all food tests.

The Benedict's test for sugars is explained in detail:

  • It specifically tests for reducing sugars
  • Requires a water bath set to 75°C
  • Benedict's solution is added to the food sample
  • A color change from blue to green, yellow, or brick red indicates the presence of reducing sugars

Vocabulary: Reducing sugars are a type of carbohydrate that can donate electrons to other molecules in certain chemical reactions.

Example: Glucose and fructose are examples of reducing sugars, while sucrose is a non-reducing sugar.

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Paul T

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user