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A Vitamin C experiment.
Over the next two classes we will proof or
disproof the following Hypothesis
“When carrots are boiled in water, vitamin C
will be lost in the carrots. This will be
evidenced by an increase in the Vitamin C
content of the water in which the carrots were
boiled “
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Describe the preparation of a test solution to
detect the presence of Vitamin C, and the
colour change expected in the presence of
vitamin C
How is Vitamin C taken into the body? Give
examples of why it is so essential that in our
diets.
What disease is associated with a severe lack
of Vitamin C what are its symptoms?
How can we ensure the experiment is kept
fair?
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Why do you think we need Vitamin C
experiment in our diet?
How do we obtain vitamin C, is it produced by
our cells or is it obtained externally?
Can you name any diseases associated with a
deficiency in Vitamin C?
For this experiment what is the single most
important thing we must be able to do?
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Vitamin C is water soluble vitamin that is
essential for normal growth and development
Because it is water soluble it is continually
being broken down and excreted in the urine,
therefore we need a continuous supply of
vitamin C in our diet
Vitamin C cannot be produced by our cells
and therefore must be taken in externally
through food sources!!
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All fruits and vegetable contain Vitamin C nut
those with the highest content include…
Strawberries. Raspberries, Cranberries,
Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Spinach and
Carrots.
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Forms the important protein Collagen that is
needed to make new skin cells, blood vessels,
ligaments and tendons.
Heal wounds and form scar tissue
Repair and maintain cartilage, bones and
teeth.
Act as an Antioxidants, which are nutrients
that block the damage caused by free
radicals, a cause of cancer.
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Scruvy is caused by a severe lack of vitamin C.
Symptoms include: in the early stages extreme
tiredness as the disease progress shortness of
breath and bone pain intensifies.
Loss of teeth is common and wounds fail to heal.
In later stages fever and convulsions lead to
death.
The disease is now considered rare in the first
world due to improved diet but still occurs in
poorer countries where diets are lacking in
nutrition.
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Fill a regular beaker with deionised water. Add ½
teaspoon of corn flour. Heat on a hot plate until
dissolved. Set aside to cool.
Place one teaspoon of this solution into a beaker
of deionised water. Add 4 drops of iodine
solution and stir.
The solution turn dark blue, this is our test
solution.
Place one Vitamin C tablet in the beaker and
observe the colour change. If the solution
changes from a dark blue colour to a clear
solution the presence of Vitamin C is detected.
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Now prepare a second test solution using the
same method.
Place 2 boiling tubes side by side. Pour
deionised water into one tube until it is ¾
full.
Using an eye dropper add drops of the
vitamin C test solution until you begin to see
the water turning slightly blue.
Record the no. of drops taken for a colour
change to be detected (it may take 50 or 60
drops!)
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Cut a carrot into small pieces or slivers. Place the
pieces in a beaker filled with deionised water.
Bring to the boil for 5-6 minutes.
Using a funnel pour the water from the beaker
into the second test tube until it is exactly ¾ full
also.
Using a dropper add the vitamin C test solution
to the carrot water.
If vitamin C is present in the water, the water will
not show any signs of turning blue when the
same number of drops are added that were
added to the water before carrots were cooked in
it.
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Can you fill the rest of the rest boiling tube
and still not see any shades of blue?
If so a significant amount of Vitamin C must
be present.
What conclusions can we draw from this
result??
Have we proofed or disproved the set
Hypothesis??
Record a conclusion based on the results you
obtained explaining all date you obtained.
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Research a second disease (not Scurvy)
associated with a deficiency in Vitamin C in
the body.
Identify its symptoms in its early and later
stages.
Identify a possible treatment and prevention.
Do some research and find out as much
information as you can about the
disease/illness you have selected.