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In the cells of a beetroot plant, a substance called anthocyanin is contained within the plasma membrane. It is anthocyanin, which gives the beetroot its characteristic blue/purple colour. If a cell is damaged in a beetroot plant and the membrane is broken, the anthocyanin bleeds from the cells like a dye. ...
Because we are experimenting with the effects of temperature on the membrane, we will place the samples of beetroot into a water baths of varying temperatures and measure the colour change in the water. ...
Materials:
Beetroot Plant Corers (various diameters) White tile, Heat proof mat, Bunsen burner, Tripod, Gauze, Beaker (for water bath), Thermometer, Colorimeter, Distilled Water, 7 test tubes containing 10cm³ of water, Tongs, Scalpel, Stop-clock, Test tube rack.
Method:
Before the experiment can start, the beetroot must first be prepared. ... The same diameter corer must be used for all the pieces so keep the surface area of each beetroot piece fairly similar. To collect a cylinder of beetroot, simply push the corer into the vegetable and then withdraw it. ... The beetroot was cut to 1cm. Because the beetroot has been cut some of the cell membranes had been broken, which means some anthocyanin will leak out. ... Once the water bath is at the correct temperature (measured using our thermometer), one piece of beetroot is placed into the hot water directly and left for exactly 1 minute. When the minute is up, the beetroot piece will then be placed into 10cm³ of distilled water.
Approximate Word count = 1182
Approximate Pages = 4.7
(250 words per page double spaced)
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