DNA Experiment

 Aim: To extract DNA from kiwi fruit.

Method: 

1. Mush half a kiwi fruit in a zip bag with a splash of water and a small teaspoon of salt.

2. Strain the solution through a cloth into a beaker. 

3. Add a squirt of dishwashing liquid and stir.

4. Pour into a test tube.

5. Place the test tube in a beaker filled with warm water.

6. Leave for 10 mins. 

7. Slowly pour 5mL of methylated spirits down the inside of the test tube.

Result: 

Discussion: 

Where do you find DNA from the kiwi.  

What makes up the Methylated Spirits.  

How much DNA do humans share with the bananas we share 60% DNA.

Conclusion: Did it work?

Yes it did work we got the DNA from the kiwi fruit. 

Making salts

Aim: To produce copper sulfate salt by reacting copper oxide with an acid.

Equipment: Copper oxide powder, dilute (0.5 mol L-1) sulfuric acid, 50 ml measuring cylinder, two 100 ml beakers, bunsen burner, tripod, gauze mat, funnel, filter paper, thermometer, spatula, evaporating basin, stirring rod.

Method: 

1. Add 20ml of sulfuric acid to a 100 ml beaker. Heat the acid until it reaches 70 degrees Celcius. Turn off your bunsen burner.

2. Once heated, use a spatula to add a pea-sized portion of copper oxide to the beaker. Stir the mixture for 30 seconds.

3. Repeat step 2 until no more will dissolve. Allow the beaker to cool.

4. Fold the filter paper and place it in the funnel. Place the filter funnel into the second beaker.

5.Make sure the beaker is cool enough to hold at the top. The contents should still be hot. You may need your teacher to complete this step.

6. Gently swirl the contents of the beaker to mix, and then pour into the filter paper in the funnel. Allow filtering through.

7.l Rinse the beaker you used to heat the mixture previously and place it back on top of your tripod filled with 50-60ml of water.

8. Place the evaporating basin on top of the beaker and carefully pour some of the solutions from the beaker into the evaporating basin. 

9. Gently heat the beaker until the solution in the evaporating basin has reduced by half.

10. Leave the evaporating basin to cool once cool, move the evaporating basin to a warm place where it will not be disturbed, and observe over the next few days. Blue copper sulfate crystals should form. 

Results:

Testing pH

 Aim: 

1. The aim is to test the pH of a range of household chemicals. 

Method: 

1. Add a few drops of each chemical to a spot on your spotting tile. if a substance is solid or powdered you will need to mix it with a few drops of water before testing it. 

2. Test the chemicals with litmus papers. 

3. Test each chemical with a few drops of universal indicator.

Results: 

Chemical being tested	Colour in blue litmus	Colour in red litmus	Colour in Universal indicator
Dish wash liquid	Blue weak base	Red strong acid	Neutral
Floor cleaner	Blue weak base	Blue weak base	Orange weak acid
Spray and wipe	Blue weak base	Blue weak base	Blue weak base
Vinegar	Red strong base	Red strong base	Red strong base

Discussion:

Conclusion: 

Chemical being tested	Acid or base	Evidence from investigation
Dish wash liquid	Neutral	The red and blue litmus stayed the same colour when we mixed.
Floor cleaner	Weak acid	Both red and blue litmus turned blue but when we mixed it with Universal it turned orange.
Spray and wipe	Weak base	Like the floor cleaner, they both turned blue but when we mixed it with universal it turned blue.
Vinegar	Strong acid	Unlike the other ones, this one was both red and when we mixed it with universal it turned yellow.