A student wants to try to convince her parents to stop serving peas for dinner. She lays out her argument that peas are high in fructose, which is a type of sugar. Which test could she use to provide scientific evidence to support her argument that peas are high in fructose?
1. Brown paper bag test
2. vinegar test
3. Iodine test
4. Benedicts test
4. Benedicts test
To provide scientific evidence to support her argument that peas are high in fructose, the student could use the Benedict's test. This test is commonly used to determine the presence of reducing sugars, including fructose. By performing the Benedict's test on a sample of peas, the student can observe if there is a significant amount of fructose present, thereby strengthening her argument.
To provide scientific evidence to support the argument that peas are high in fructose, the student can conduct a test called the Benedicts test.
Here's how the student can perform the Benedicts test to determine the presence of fructose in peas:
1. Obtain a few peas and crush them to break them open.
2. Take a clean test tube and add a small amount of the crushed peas.
3. Next, add an equal amount of Benedict's solution to the test tube.
4. Heat the test tube containing the mixture in a water bath or hot plate for a few minutes.
5. Observe the color change in the mixture after heating.
If peas are indeed high in fructose, the Benedicts test will show a color change. Benedict's solution contains copper sulfate, which reacts with reducing sugars like fructose to form a reddish-brown precipitate. The intensity of the color change can indicate the amount of fructose present.
It's important to note that while the Benedicts test can show the presence of fructose, it does not quantify the exact amount. For a more accurate measurement, methods like high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or enzymatic analysis could be used. However, these methods might require more advanced equipment and expertise.