Experiments for Living Chemistry

Experiments for Living Chemistry provides practical, ""hands-on"" experiments illustrating the concepts, substances, and techniques that are important to students in the health-related sciences. Many of these experiments are based on physiological substances to show students how chemical principles apply to the functioning of their own bodies, while other experiments use cut-outs to help students visualize such complex concepts as bonding and protein synthesis. This book is organized into 23 chapters that correspond on a chapter by chapter basis with the Living Chemistry textbook. The first five chapters include discussions on matter, measurement, chemical bonding, compounds, chemical change, gases, and respiration. The subsequent chapters deal with water, solutions, acids, bases, salts, hydrocarbons, and nuclear and organic chemistry. Other chapters explore the oxygen and other derivatives of the hydrocarbons, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, and digestion. Considerable chapters are devoted to the metabolism of carbohydrate, energy, lipid, and proteins. The remaining chapters examine the heredity and protein synthesis, vitamins, hormones, body fluids, drugs, and poisons. At the end of each chapter, there are sets of questions designed to help the student relate the laboratory experiments to the textbook and to the lecture portion of the course. Each experiment in the chapter has a corresponding question set that should be answered only after the experiment has been completed. This book is an invaluable study guide to chemistry teachers and undergraduate students.

Safety Rules

Common Laboratory Equipment

1 Matter and measurement

To measure lengths in the metric system

To measure volumes in the metric system using a graduated cylinder

To measure the mass of objects using a balance

To calculate the densities of solids and liquids

To operate a Bunsen burner

To measure temperatures in the Celsius system

Questions

2 The composition of matter

To demonstrate an understanding of atomic structure by completing a worksheet

To identify examples of elements

To demonstrate an understanding of the periodic table

Questions

3 Chemical bonding

To demonstrate the formation of covalent and ionic bonds

To test for the presence of certain ions

Questions

4 Compounds and chemical change

To compare the properties of a mixture and a compound

To carry out chemical reactions

To demonstrate the law of conservation of mass

Questions

5 Gases and respiration

To observe properties of gases

To prepare oxygen

To prepare carbon dioxide and observe its properties

Questions

6 Water

To observe the properties of water

To purify water using different methods

To convert hard water to soft water using an ion-exchange resin

Questions

7 Solutions

To determine the relative solubilities of solids and liquids

To prepare solutions of known concentration

To prepare examples of colloids

To observe the effects of osmosis and dialysis

Questions

8 Acids, bases, and salts

To observe the effects of pH on the colors of indicators

To observe the properties of acids

To perform a titration of gastric juice

To observe the effect of a buffer solution

Questions

9 Nuclear chemistry and radiation

To measure radioactivity using a Geiger counter

To print a photograph

Questions

10 Organic Chemistry-hydrocarbons

To build ball-and-stick models of hydrocarbon molecules

To observe reactions of hydrocarbons

Questions

11 Oxygen derivatives of the hydrocarbons

To observe the properties of and perform chemical reactions involving alcohols

To observe properties of and perform reactions involving carboxylic acids

To prepare esters by reacting alcohols with carboxylic acids

Questions

12 Other organic derivatives and polymers

To observe the chemical properties of amides

To prepare a polymer-nylon

Questions

13 Carbohydrates

To perform tests for carbohydrates

To test urine for the presence of carbohydrates

To carry out the hydrolysis of carbohydrates

Questions

14 Lipids

To observe the properties of lipids

To prepare soap by saponification

To perform tests for cholesterol

Questions

15 Proteins

To perform tests for proteins

To isolate a protein, casein, from milk

To separate amino acids by paper chromatography

To denature a protein

Questions

16 Enzymes and digestion

To digest starch with an enzyme from saliva

To determine amylase activity

Questions

17 Energy and carbohydrate metabolism

To perform a test for lactic acid

To perform a quantitative test for glucose using a spectrophotometer

Questions

18 Metabolism of lipids

To perform tests for ketone bodies

To determine the fat content of a food sample

To record the caloric intake of one day's diet

Questions

19 Metabolism of proteins

To prepare urea

To test for proteins in urine

To test for uric acid

Questions

20 Heredity and protein synthesis

To isolate ribonucleic acid and test for its components

To test for phenylpyruvic acid

To determine the arrangement of a tetrapeptide based on a DNA sequence

Questions

21 Vitamins and hormones

To analyze a daily diet for vitamin content

To test the vitamin C content of foods

Questions

22 Chemistry of the body fluids

To test urine for several components

To determine the percent of mineral in milk

Questions

23 Drugs and poisons

To test for the presence of drugs

To isolate caffeine from a cola drink

To test food for an additive

Questions

Appendix A Equipment

Appendix B Chemicals

Appendix C Periodic Table

Appendix D International table of atomic weights