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Lab Denaturing Albumin

This experiment investigated how changes in temperature, pH, ethanol, and lead nitrate affect the solubility of albumin from egg whites. The student hypothesized that altering any of these variables would cause the albumin to become insoluble in water. The results supported this, as raising the temperature slightly, changing the pH, adding ethanol or lead nitrate all caused the albumin solution to become cloudy or form a precipitate, indicating it had denatured and lost solubility. The controlled test tube showed no effect, demonstrating the variables were successfully isolated.

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Minh Hoang
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466 views

Lab Denaturing Albumin

This experiment investigated how changes in temperature, pH, ethanol, and lead nitrate affect the solubility of albumin from egg whites. The student hypothesized that altering any of these variables would cause the albumin to become insoluble in water. The results supported this, as raising the temperature slightly, changing the pH, adding ethanol or lead nitrate all caused the albumin solution to become cloudy or form a precipitate, indicating it had denatured and lost solubility. The controlled test tube showed no effect, demonstrating the variables were successfully isolated.

Uploaded by

Minh Hoang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Hoang Le Minh 12MRLV

Topic: Protein denaturation

Date: 4th March 2014


Time: 1 hour

Denaturing albumin

I. Introduction
Research question
How does a change in heat, pH, the addition of 95% ethanol, and the addition of lead (II) nitrate/silver
nitrate affect the solubility of albumin in eggs?
Hypothesis
I postulate that:

In test tube 1 (investigating temperature), the albumin would undergo a colour change from

clear to white and become water-insoluble.


In test tube 2a (investigating acidic pH), the albumin would become water-insoluble.
In test tube 2b (investigating alkaline pH), the albumin would become water-insoluble.
In test tube 3 (investigating the effect of ethanol), the albumin would become water-insoluble
In test tube 4 (investigating the effect of lead (II) nitrate), the albumin would become waterinsoluble.

Variables
Controlled variables: Same starting concentration of albumin stock solution

Test tube 1: Variables kept the same: pH, absence of ethanol, absence of lead (II) nitrate/silver

nitrate
Test tube 2: Variables kept the same: temperature, absence of ethanol, absence of lead (II)

nitrate/silver nitrate
Test tube 3: Variables kept the same: pH, temperature, absence of lead (II) nitrate/silver nitrate
Test tube 4: Variables kept the same: pH, temperature, absence of ethanol

Dependent variable: Solubility of albumin


Independent variable:

Test tube 1: Temperature


Test tube 2: pH
Test tube 3: Presence of ethanol
Test tube 4: Presence of lead (II) nitrate or silver nitrate

II. Procedures and materials


Apparatus

6 test tubes
Test tube rack
Pipettes
Measuring cylinders
Beaker

Safety precautions

Eye protection

Procedures
1. Prepare a stock albumen solution by adding the white of one egg to 100 ml of distilled water in a
beaker. Stir until the albumin is in solution.
2. Place 5 ml of albumen solution into each of six test tubes. Label the tubes Control, A, B1, B2, C, and
D.
3. Treat the four solutions as follows:

Control: Let stand in room temperature. Measure the temperature and pH with pH paper.
A: Heat in a hot water bath for a few minutes.
B1: Add 2 ml of 1M HCl. Record the pH using pH paper.
B2: Add 2ml of 10% NaOH. Record the pH using pH paper.
C: Add 1 ml of 95% ethanol solution.
D: Add 5 10 drops of 2% lead (II) nitrate.

4. Record observations.

III. Data collection and presentation


Results

Denaturing agents

Observation

Control test tube (pH 8,

No change

240C)
A Heat, 650C

Turns slightly cloudy.

B1 1M HCl, pH 1
B2 1M NaOH, pH 11

Viscosity increases. Solution becomes thicker and runnier.


However, no perceptible colour change is observed.

C 95% Ethanol

Turns cloudy, but not to the extent of test tube D.


Turns cloudy at the top of the solution first, then eventually permeates to the
entire body of the solution.

D Lead (II) nitrate

Coagulates into a white solid immediately when coming into contact with
lead (II) nitrate.
Produces a white precipitate, soft when touched.

IV. Data processing


No quantitative data available.

V. Conclusion and evaluation

1) What was the purpose of the controlled test tube?


2) What common result occurred in all experimental tubes? Why?

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