Purpose
To confirm the presence of water in living organisms
Additional information
The significance of water in the realm of living organisms is obvious right from the cellular level where this ‘universal solvent’ carries out the role of transporting vital nutrients across membranes and the entire body.
Here’s a simple example of how important water is to life – red blood cells contain about one percent solutes and 99% water! In this light, it surely is no surprise that dehydration can cause death of a living organism.
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Required materials
- Test tube
- Green leaves
- Burner
- Stand with test tube holder
- Beaker
- White Anhydrous Copper Sulphate
Estimated Experiment Time
Approximately 2 hours
Step-By-Step Procedure
- 1. Place a few fresh, green leaves in a test tube.
- 2. Set up the apparatus by using a stand to hold the test tube containing the leaves horizontally.
- 3. The burner must be placed at the base of the test tube (the end where the leaves are placed).
- 4. Place a beaker in such a way that the mouth of the test tube opens above it – the beaker must be able to collect any fluids coming out of the mouth of the test tube.
- 5. Once this has been set up, heat the green plant leaves and collect the condensed vapor in a beaker.
- 6. Add a drop of this liquid to White Anhydrous Copper Sulphate and observe the changes that take place.
Note
N/A
Observation
Upon heating the leaves are found to produce a clear liquid. On testing this liquid with White Anhydrous Copper Sulphate, it turns the latter blue.
Result
Water turns White Anhydrous Copper Sulphate blue – it is hence proven that the liquid given out from the leaves is water and more importantly, that living things do contain water.
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complete with the industry first side-by-side element comparisons!
