Unit 1 - Lifestyle, Transport, Genes and Health
All documents for this subject (37)
Seller
Follow
hiiii21
Reviews received
Content preview
Hiba Majid 12E
QUESTION TO BE INVESTIGATED: How does alcohol concentration affect the membrane structure of beetroot?
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH:
● Beetroot is the taproot portion of a beet plant. The cells have membranes reflecting the fluid mosaic
model: a bilayer of phospholipids and within the layer, there is cholesterol proteins and
carbohydrates (Khan Academy, 2021)
● Effect of alcohol on structure of membrane: Ethanol is a nonpolar solvent which can sit between the
hydrophobic tails of the bilayer. This breaks the hydrogen bonds between the lipids, disrupting the
bilayer which increases permeability and makes the membrane more fluid. (Biophys J. 2006)
● Betalains: is the most common pigment in beetroots, responsible for their strong red colour. The red
colour compound betanin is not broken down in the body. Betalains are stored in the vacuole of the
cell. In order for the betalains to leave the cell, they must first leave the vacuole membrane and then
through the cell membrane. Betalains leave the cell via diffusion (Molecules, 2021)
● A colorimeter measures the absorbance of particular wavelengths of light by a specific solution. It
compares the amount of light getting through a solution with the amount that can get through a
sample of pure solvent. It is used for identification and determination of concentrations of substances
that absorb light (Britannica, 2014)
HYPOTHESIS: As the concentration of alcohol increases there is more disruption to the lipid bilayer, making
it more fluid, causing what is inside the cell to leak out and so more red colour will be present.
METHOD
1. Carry out instructions given (or those you have produced and researched) to complete the practical
(CPAC1)
2. List apparatus below and describe techniques used when measuring quantities with a particular piece
of apparatus:
Piece of apparatus Purpose of piece of apparatus Comment on how piece of equipment was used Appendix
accurately/appropriately/safely 5c
technique
Raw beetroot To observe the effect alcohol Low risk
has on the cell membrane Although beetroot juice is harmless, It will stain
skin and clothes badly
Size 4 core borer To cut volumes of beetroot Medium risk
pieces No harm should occur so long as the core borer
is used responsibly
Ruler To measure cylinders of Low risk
beetroot In order to ensure accuracy, the ruler must be
used properly, ensuring that it starts from 0cm
and that the ruler is kept along the piece of the
beetroot instead of at an angle to it
Distilled water To act as a control and as a Low risk
baseline for comparison Keep away from edge to avoid spillage so that
purposes no one will slip and hurt themselves
Filter paper/tissue To dry off excess dye that No risk
might have leaked out of the To ensure measurements that are taken later
beetroot cells while it was are accurate, you should not press down too
being cut due to damage to hard on the beetroot with the tissue to avoid
the cell membrane damage to the beetroot cells, which will lead to
more betalain being released.
Scalpel Cut the beetroot Medium risk
Cut away from fingers
Beaker Contain distilled water to Low risk
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller hiiii21. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $11.60. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.