Food Tests

Learning Objectives:

To understand the main components of the

human diet.
To test for the presence of starch, glucose
protein and fat in a food sample.

Starter:

List the 7 parts of the human diet.

Carbohydrates
Water

Minerals

Protein

Fibre

Vitamins

Fats

8A Whats in food?

We can test foods to find out what chemicals they

contain.
Orangey-brown iodine turns blue-black when it
reacts with starch.
drop iodine solution onto
the food

black = starch

8A Whats in food?

Blue Benedicts solution turns orangey-red when it

is boiled with glucose.

chopped
up food

hot water

heat

blue turns orange/red

= glucose

8A Whats in food?

In the Biuret test the solution turns purple.

potassium
hydroxide
shake

copper
sulphate

purple = protein
chopped up
food

8A Whats in food?

Fats go cloudy white when they are mixed with

ethanol and water.

filter
grind food
with ethanol

add
water

cloudy = fat

Now see if you can use these tests to identify the

food chemicals on the next slides.

8A Whats in food?

For each food, decide on the chemicals found in them.

Food sample

Protein

Test

Result

Iodine solution

orangey-brown

Benedicts test

blue

Biuret test

purple

Ethanol test

cloudy white

Fats

Starch

Glucose

8A Whats in food?

For each food, decide on the chemicals found in them.

Food sample

Protein

Test

Result

Iodine solution

blue-black

Benedicts test

blue

Biuret test

blue

Ethanol test

clear

Fats

Starch

Glucose

8A Whats in food?

For each food, decide on the chemicals found in them.

Food sample

Protein

Test

Result

Iodine solution

orangey-brown

Benedicts test

orangey-red

Biuret test

blue

Ethanol test

clear

Fats

Starch

Glucose

8A Whats in food?

For each food, decide on the chemicals found in them.

Food sample

Protein

Test

Result

Iodine solution

orangey-brown

Benedicts test

orangey-red

Biuret test

blue

Ethanol test

clear

Fats

Starch

Glucose

Practical Activity
Safety First:
Wear safety
goggles
Stand up
Tuck your chair &
bags under your
desk
Tie back long hair

Experiment!
Youve been given a sample of foods. Test
these foods using the four food tests to see
what energy chemicals they contain!
Complete this table with your results.
Food

Starch

Glucose

Protein

Fat

Cream
Cake

8A A food test for YOU!

1. A balanced diet
a) contains the same amounts of the main food groups
b) contains healthy amounts of the main food groups
c) doesnt fall off the table.
2. A balanced diet for most people has more
a) fat than water
b) carbohydrate than protein
c) crisps than fruit.

8A A food test for YOU!

3. To test for protein in food you

a) add iodine solution
b) do the Biuret test
c) poke it with a big stick.
4. Sugar and starch are both
a) proteins
b) fats
c) carbohydrates.

8A A food test for YOU!

5. Iodine solutions turns blue-black with

a) starch
b) protein
c) age.
6. A food went orangey-red when it was boiled with
Benedicts solution. It could be
a) a carrot
b) a boiled sweet
c) a sausage.

Food Tests
Learning Objectives:
To understand the main components of the
human diet.
To test for the presence of starch, glucose
protein and fat in a food sample.