Alcohol Solutions Affecting Beetroot Cell
Discussion:
6. The ph solutions that were used were 2,4,7,9 and 10. All of these solutions affected the beetroot, but the most acidic solutions were the ones that did the most damage to the membrane. This is because the ph affects the proteins within the phospho lipid bi-layer. The acidic ph breaks the hydrogen bonds therefore denaturing the proteins and allowing beetroot pigment to secrete form the cell.
7. The ethanol solutions that were used were 11%, 25% and 50% ethanol. The beetroot cell was almost immediately affected by the 50% alcohol but settled as time past. On the other hand the pigment intensity increased through time with the 25% alcohol solution. The ethanol affects the beetroot cell membrane because the ethanol is a very …show more content…
The solutions that affected the beetroot membrane immediately were the most acidic ph (2) solution and the most concentrated alcohol (50%) solution. This is because the solutions were extremely hypertonic to the beetroot cell. Therefore the solutions rushed in and damaged the cell very badly. By damaging the cell, the beetroot pigment leaked into the solution. The other solutions took a longer time to get through the bi-layer because they were less hypotonic to the beetroot cell membrane. But when they did get through, some made more damage to the cell than the more concentrated solution. The ethanol was the quickest to get through the membrane because it is a very small molecule and goes straight through the holes in the bi-layer.
10. The beetroot slices needed to be washed before using them because they could have had other solutions that were on them that could have reacted with the solutions. The beetroot cells were also in the same solution where other beetroots were and were covered in the other beetroot pigment. The beetroot was also washed with distilled water so that the beetroot cell would be turgid so there was a maximum effect with the other solutions.
11. This activity could have been made more quantitive due to many factors. Some of these factors
6. The ph solutions that were used were 2,4,7,9 and 10. All of these solutions affected the beetroot, but the most acidic solutions were the ones that did the most damage to the membrane. This is because the ph affects the proteins within the phospho lipid bi-layer. The acidic ph breaks the hydrogen bonds therefore denaturing the proteins and allowing beetroot pigment to secrete form the cell.
7. The ethanol solutions that were used were 11%, 25% and 50% ethanol. The beetroot cell was almost immediately affected by the 50% alcohol but settled as time past. On the other hand the pigment intensity increased through time with the 25% alcohol solution. The ethanol affects the beetroot cell membrane because the ethanol is a very …show more content…
The solutions that affected the beetroot membrane immediately were the most acidic ph (2) solution and the most concentrated alcohol (50%) solution. This is because the solutions were extremely hypertonic to the beetroot cell. Therefore the solutions rushed in and damaged the cell very badly. By damaging the cell, the beetroot pigment leaked into the solution. The other solutions took a longer time to get through the bi-layer because they were less hypotonic to the beetroot cell membrane. But when they did get through, some made more damage to the cell than the more concentrated solution. The ethanol was the quickest to get through the membrane because it is a very small molecule and goes straight through the holes in the bi-layer.
10. The beetroot slices needed to be washed before using them because they could have had other solutions that were on them that could have reacted with the solutions. The beetroot cells were also in the same solution where other beetroots were and were covered in the other beetroot pigment. The beetroot was also washed with distilled water so that the beetroot cell would be turgid so there was a maximum effect with the other solutions.
11. This activity could have been made more quantitive due to many factors. Some of these factors