Acid-Base Properties of Amino Acids
Denaturing and Precipitating Proteins
Enzymatic Activity of Glucose Oxidase
HIV-1 Protease: An Enzyme at Work
Studying Enzyme Kinetics Using Catalase
Binding of Coomassie Brilliant Blue to Egg Albumin
Breaking Down Sucrose Using Invertase
Color Reactions of Amino Acids
Effect of pH on Protein Solubility
Enzyme Catalyzed Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide
Enzyme Kinetics: Experiments With Catalase Extract
Halting the Briggs-Rauscher Reaction
Hydrolysis of Wool in Strong Base
Breaking Down Sucrose Using Invertase
Description: The disaccharide sucrose can be broken down into its component monosaccharide subunits using enzyme invertase. The resulting monomers are reducing sugars which form a brick red precipitate when it is heated with Fehling’s solution.
Source: Kristin Johnson
Year: 1999 Vol: N/A Page: N/A
Keywords: Sucrose, Invertase, Monosaccharide, Precipitate, Fehling’s solution
Rating: 
Hazard: Some
- Electric shock hazard
- Acute toxicity hazard
- Acute aquatic toxicity hazard
- Skin corrosion hazard
- Serious eye damage
- Corrosive to metals
- Burn hazard
Effectiveness: Good
- Results are clearly observable without guidance
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Time to results is medium
- Moderate failure rate
- Primary observations
Difficulty: Medium
- Some concerted or timed manipulations
- Use of reactive substances
- Reaction of demos at non-standard conditions
- Multi-step procedures
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Gloves required
- Thermal gloves recommended
- Tongs recommended
- Use of UL approved three-prong plug and outlet
- Absorbent materials on hand
- Sodium bicarbonate on hand
- Prevent release of reagents to the environment
Class: Biochemistry, Precipitation Reactions, Redox
Division: General
Return to General Chemistry Demonstrations