Importance of Surface area in digestion

 Introduction
In Mechanical digestion, the muscular action of the digestive organs breaks food into smaller
pieces, mixes the pieces with digestive enzymes, and moves the pieces through the alimentary
canal. The first step in the mechanical digestion is chewing. Chewing breaks down food into smaller
pieces making it easier to digest, trying to digest a solid piece of food could take 24 hours or more.
However, when food is mechanically broken down into smaller pieces, more of its surface area is
exposed to enzymes and digestion only takes 4-6 hours.

 Materials
- Effervescent tablet - Test tubes and test tube rack
- Water (100 degrees F/38 Degrees C) - Small Knife
- Mortar and pestle
- Small plates

 Methods
Step 1: Prepare 3 Effervescent tablets.
Step 2: Cut 1 Effervescent tablet into halves then another tablet to be crushed completely by the
mortar and pestle until powdered.
Step 3: Put each Effervescent tablets to each test tubes. Label them to avoid confusion.
Step 4: Then add the water.
Step 5: Observer and take note how long till all the tablet is mixed with the water.

 Data and Analysis

SAMPLE OBSERVATION I N T E R PRET ATI O N

Effervescent Tablet Took 34 seconds to The slowest because the tablet

completely mix with water. is still intact therefore having
less surface area.
 Effervescent Tablet (Cut into 24 seconds have passed until It is faster than the first one
2 pieces) the tablet completely merged because it is cut therefore
with water. adding greater surface area for
enzymes to react.

Effervescent Tablet The tablet took 17 seconds to It is the fastest one because it
(Powdered) completely be mixed with has the greatest surface area for
water. enzymes to react with.

 Conclusion
In conclusion, after preparing all the needed materials and following the necessary instructions, we
can see that the Effervescent Tablet that is powdered is the fastest to mix with water because it has
greater surface area. Likewise, food digest faster when broken down into small pieces.

 Reference/s
Aceconnect. (January 20, 2020). Biology Lab || Digestion/Absorption. A. C. E. School of
Tomorrow. Youtube. youtube.com. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No3RRH1G_R4

Experiment 2: Importance of Pepsin and Acid in the digestion of Protein.

 Introduction
While we chew our food, it is being mixed with saliva which is secreted by the salivary glands.
Saliva moistens food to make it easier to swallow and it also adds digestive enzymes. These
digestive enzymes begin the work of chemical digestion. In Chemical Digestion: Enzymes and
other chemical substances break down food into nutrients that can be used by the body’s cells.
Chemical digestion takes place in the mouth, stomach, and small intestine. The salivary glands,
liver, gallbladder, and pancreas help with the process of chemical digestion while food is being
chewed, the mouth and tongue press the food into a soft round ball called a Bolus. After the Bolus
was swallowed, it passes down the esophagus into the stomach. In the stomach, Mechanical
digestion continues as the muscles of the stomach wall smash the Bolus and break it into tiny
particles. Chemical Digestion also continues as the bolus is mixed with digestive enzymes. One
enzyme that digest food is Pepsin. Glandular cells in the stomach secrete an inactive form of pepsin
which cannot do its job unless it is mixed with an acid. Other Glandular cells in the stomach secrete
gastric acid to activate the pepsin. One of the main components of gastric acid is Hydrochloric acid
(HCl).

 Materials
- Test tubes and test tube rack - 5 m L of Pepsin Solution (Pepsin
- Beaker dissolved in water)
 - Dropper - 5 m L of Diluted solution of
- Stopper Hydrochloric Acid
- 5 ml Pepsin and Hydrochloric Acid
solution
- Albumin

 Methods
Step 1: Put equal amounts of Albumin to 4 test tubes. Then label to avoid any confusions.
Step 2: Add 5 m L of Pepsin Solution (Pepsin dissolved in water) to test tube 1.
Step 3: Put a stopper then shake.
Step 4: Add 5 m L of Diluted solution of Hydrochloric Acid to test tube 2.
Step 5: Put a stopper then shake.
Step 6: Add 5 ml Pepsin and Hydrochloric Acid solution to test tube 3.
Step 7: Put a stopper then shake.
Step 8: Add 5 m L of water to test tube 4.
Step 9: Put a stopper then shake.
Step 10: Put all test tubes in a water bath that is set in a temperature of 100 degrees F/ 38 Degrees
C for 45 minutes.
Step 11: Remove them in the bath then place them in the rack.
Step 12: Put 6 drops of Biuret reagent to each test tube.
Step 13: Observe (If proteins are present, then the biuret reagent will turn purple).

 Data and Analysis

SAMPLE OBSERVATION I N T E R PRET ATI O N

Albumin w/ Pepsin Solution The solution turned Purple. The presence of proteins are still
in the solution. Pepsin is not
enough to obliterate the protein.

Albumin w/ Dil. Hydrochloric The solution manifested a purple The presence of proteins are still
Solution color. in the solution. Dil. Hydrochloric
is not enough to obliterate
protein.

Albumin w/ Pepsin Hydrochloric A pink color is observed to the No presence of protein is

Solution solution. detected in the solution. The
combination of Pepsin and
 Hydrochloric Solution is
efficient when it comes to
digesting proteins.

Albumin w/ water A color of Purple was shown in Presence of proteins are still
the solution. detected in the solution.

 Conclusion
In conclusion, after doing all the procedures with utmost precautions, the results of the experiment
are expected. Just like in our digestive process, Both Pepsin and Hydrochloric Solution have to
work together in order to digest proteins that we intake. They cannot work independently. This idea
is backed up by our experiment itself. The albumin with the Pepsin and Hydrochloric Solution is
the only one that showed a positive result.

 Reference/s
Aceconnect. (January 20, 2020). Biology Lab || Digestion/Absorption. A. C. E. School of
Tomorrow. Youtube. youtube.com. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No3RRH1G_R4

Experiment 3: Importance of Amylase in the Digestion of Carbohydrates

 Introductions
Partially digested food that leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine is called Chyme. In
the small intestine, Chyme is mixed with digestive enzymes secreted from the pancreas. Amylase
is a pancreatic enzyme that breaks down starch into glucose. Glucose is a simple carbohydrate that
can be assimilated by the cells of the body. In this experiment, we will examine the chemical
digestion of starch by Amylase.

 Materials
- Test tubes and Test tube - Starch Solution
racks - Amylase
- Dropper - Potassium Triiodide
- Stopper - Water
- Water bath

 Methods
Step 1: 5 mL of Starch solution added to two test tubes
Step 2: Label them to avoid confusion
Step 3: Place both test tubes in a water bath at 100 degrees F/ 38 degrees C for 15 minutes.
 Step 4: Take test tube 1 out of the water bath and add 0.15 g of Amylase.
Step 5: Put stopper then shake.
Step 6: Put the test tube back in the bath for another 10 minutes.
Step 7: Remove both test tubes in the water bath.
Step 8: Put 3 drops of Potassium triiodide solution to each test tubes them mix.
Step 9: Observe (If proteins are present, the reagent will turn black)

 Data and Analysis

SAMPLE OBSERVATION I N T E R PRET ATI O N

Starch w/ Amylase The solution manifested a yellow No presence of Carbohydrates is

color. detected. Amylase have
successfully break down the
carbohydrates.

Starch w/o Amylase A black color is observed. Presence of Carbohydrates are

detected.

 Conclusion
In conclusion, the experiment is successful when it comes to showing how carbohydrates are
digested in our bodies. In this experiment, our sample carbohydrate which is starch is completely
broken down by our enzyme Amylase. We can see this as our solution changed its color to Yellow.

 Reference/s
Aceconnect. (January 20, 2020). Biology Lab || Digestion/Absorption. A. C. E. School of
Tomorrow. Youtube. youtube.com. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No3RRH1G_R4

Experiment 4: Importance of Lipase in the Digestion of lipids

 Introduction
When it comes to digesting Lipids, Lipids break down into Fatty Acids. Lipids are digested by
Lipase which is the digestive enzyme secreted from the pancreas. We will use milk in this
experiment because it has a high concentration of lipids.
  Materials
- Test tubes and Test tube rack - Litmus milk solution
- Dropper - Lipase
- Water bath - Water

 Methods
Step 1: Add 10 m L of Litmus milk solution to two test tubes
Step 2: Label the to avoid confusion
Step 3: Add 0.5 g of Lipase to the litmus milk in test tube 1 then mix.
Step 4: Place both test tubes in a water bath for 45 minutes.
Step 5: Observe after 45 minutes (The solution will become dark purple if it becomes acidic).

 Data and Analysis

SAMPLE OBSERVATION I N T E R PRET ATI O N
Litmus milk w/ Lipase The color of the solution had The solution had become acidic
become dark purple. because of the Lipase
Litmus milk w/o Lipase No change in color is observed. No change in the solution
happens.

 Conclusion
In conclusion, after having and doing all the necessary steps in this experiment, we can now
understand further how Lipids can be digested in our body. The results vividly showed us how
Lipase is very effective when it comes to breaking down Lipids into Acids.

 Reference/s
Aceconnect. (January 20, 2020). Biology Lab || Digestion/Absorption. A. C. E. School of
Tomorrow. Youtube. youtube.com. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No3RRH1G_R4