CHEM 1030L — Experimental Design 1
Procedure
An Experimental Design and Investigation
Kudzu Labs: From Biomass to Biofuel
Procedure for Experimental Design Week 1
Get Organized
1. Student teams of 2 work best. Each team needs 1 test tube rack, 8 small test tubes, marker,
stirring rod, kudzu samples, hotplate, 250-mL beaker, and 0.5-mL disposable pipettes.
2. Prepare a label that includes the instructor's last name, the date, and the initials of each student
researcher. Attach the label to the beaker.
3. Add about 80-90 mL water and 2-3 boiling chips (very important) to the beaker.
4. Heat the beaker of water by placing it on a hot plate set to about 50% power. If necessary, use a
hot plate on a neighboring lab bench. Keep watch so that the water does not boil too vigorously
or boil away completely.
Mechanical and Chemical Pretreatment
1. Weigh out approximately 1.000 g of kudzu pieces. Transfer the kudzu to a mortar and pestle
and crush the kudzu pieces into a fine powder.
2. Follow instructor instructions to prepare a label for each test tube that includes part of the
information from the following table. Include on the label the date that the experiment begins
and the initials of each student researcher.
Test
Tube #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Heat
Heat
No Heat
Heat
No Heat
Heat
No Heat
Heat
No Heat
Chemical
Reagent
Water
Water
HCl
HCl
H2SO4
H2SO4
KOH
KOH
3. Take the rack and test tubes to the weigh stations. Follow the instructor instructions and use
weighing paper that is diagonally creased to weigh out 0.100 g of kudzu (it is very important
that each test tube get the same mass) and transfer it to one of the test tubes. Record the actual
mass of kudzu in the Lab Report form. Repeat for the remaining test tubes. Use gentle taping
or a glass stirring rod to move all of the kudzu powder to the bottom of the test tube. RETURN
UNUSED KUDZU TO THE INSTRUCTOR.
Adapted from the Boyce Thompson Institute, CDW and Genecor
Parris Powers, Douglas Williams, and Thomas Ekman, Volunteer State Community College, Gallatin, TN
3.29.2015
CHEM 1030L — Experimental Design 1
Procedure
4. Consult the data table and use a disposable pipette to place 1 drop of the chemical reagent
designated by the data table into the appropriately labeled test tube. For example, place 1 drop
of distilled water in test tubes 1 & 2, place 1 drop of 1.0 M HCl in test tubes 3 & 4, etc. Add 20
drops of distilled water to all test tubes. The instructor will demonstrate how to agitate each
test tube to mix the kudzu with the chemical in the test tube. Alternatively, the test tube
contents may be stirred with a glass rod that has been rinsed with distilled water and dried on
a clean paper towel. Rinse and dry the stirring rod between test tubes so that cross
contamination does not ruin the final results.
B. Heat Pretreatment
1. Make sure that the beaker of boiling water is about 1/3 full. If necessary, add water from a
distilled water bottle and allow it to return to a boil.
2. Carefully place the four test tubes labeled 1, 3, 5, 7 (corresponding to "Heat" in the data table)
into the beaker of boiling water. Set a timer and allow the samples to sit in the gently boiling
water for 15 minutes.
3. Place a piece of paper towel on the bench near the hot plate (to protect the bench top). Use
beaker tongs to transfer the beaker from the hot plate to the paper towel. Once the test tubes
are cool enough to touch, transfer them to the test tube rack and empty the labeled beaker.
Follow the instructor's directions to carefully cap the mouth of each test tube with paraffin wax
paper. Record the appearance of each test tube in the data table. Be sure to note changes
related to the heat pretreatment in the report Conclusion and describe possible causes of the
changes.
4. Place all test tubes in the labeled beaker and place it on the instructor's bench. The kudzu
samples will remain in contact with the chemical reagents for one week to allow the chemical
pretreatments to work.
5. Record visual observations from each test tube on the Lab Report form.
C. Answer Questions
According to the instructor directions, use all available time (such as when the samples are boiling and
cooling and during time remaining at the end of the period) to collaborate with your lab partner on the
questions assigned for this lab exercise.
Adapted from the Boyce Thompson Institute, CDW and Genecor
Parris Powers, Douglas Williams, and Thomas Ekman, Volunteer State Community College, Gallatin, TN
3.29.2015