Dilution Experiment

INTRODUCTION A dilution is the process of combining measured volumes of a concentrated solution of analytic with a buffer to make less concentrated solutions. It is a process repeated constantly in the laboratory. There are several ways to make dilutions. The terms concentrated and dilute are qualitative terms that refer to a relatively high or low concentration, respectively, of solute in the solution. Preparing solutions by dilution is convenient. One can make a single concentrated stock solution of a solute, and then quickly prepare a variety of more dilute solutions by dilution. Measuring volumes is quicker than weighing. Plus, dilution of a concentrated solution is a practical method to make solutions that are diluted you would have trouble weighing the solute. There is a simple equation for calculating dilutions. It is also easy to present the logic of the equation. We mainly discuss dilution problems using molarity as the concentration unit.

Objective 1. To study on the biochemistry laboratory and requirements for the course, and the needed laboratory skills. 2. To practice accuracy and consistency in conducting some experiment that involves dilution of chemical.

Methods 1. 9 ml of distilled water are placed in 5 test tubes. The glass/serological pipets used. 2. 1 ml of 0.5% (w/v) starch solution blue in the test tube is taken and it was added to the test tubes that contained 9 ml of distilled water. The solution are mixed and left it to settle. Labelled as A. 3. 1 ml of test tube A are taken and transferred into the next test tube that contained 9 ml of distilled water. The solution are mixed well and left to settle. Labelled as B. 4. 1 ml of test tube B are taken and transferred into the next test tube that contained 9 ml of distilled water. The solution are mixed well and left to settle. Labelled as C. 5. 1 ml of test tube C are taken and transferred into the next test tube that contained 9 ml of distilled water. The solution are mixed well and left to settle. Labelled as D. 6. 1 ml of test tube D are taken and transferred into the next test tube that contained 9 ml of distilled water. The solution are mixed well and left to settle. Labelled as E. 7. An aliquot of iodine solution are added to all test tubes and the observation are recorded and described based on the observation. 8. The table below are used to calculate the starch concentration and dilution factor of test tubes A to E.

Result: Test Tube A B C D E Starch concentration ( 500 50 5 0.5 0.05 ) Dilution factor 10 100 1000 10000 100000

Discussion The concentration of starch is reducing from that in test tube A until test tube E. This was shown by the decreasing intensity of the blue-black colour produced in every test tube after 50L iodine was added from test tube A until test tube E. In this practical period, the important skills in biochemistry are practiced. These include the determination of concentration of a chemical mainly by computing the raw data using formulae in chemistry as well as by measuring the amount directly using right apparatus, application of unit conversion and proper usage of laboratory apparatus in conducting an experiment. The technique of determining concentration of a prepared chemical solution is very important especially when it comes to the usage of a little amount of chemical with mili- and micro- unit. Other than that, the safety precaution is also practiced. This is a way to keep the laboratory in a safe condition and keep the experiment out of any contaminations or interferences. It is very important to master these skills as a simple mistake during an experiment can lead to a huge impact and might cause a lot of experimental error which will get the experiment to failure. Other than that, it can lead to any harm due to exposure to chemical such as concentrated acid (corrosive), ethidium bromide (carcinogenic), and other harmful chemical substances which can cause injury or health problems. These do not only occur during experiments that focused on Biochemistry field alone but also to other branches of science., studies have reported that 30-40% of medication administration errors are caused by mistakes in drug calculation (Schulmeister,1999). So, this shows how important it is to master the laboratory skills especially in applying them in real life.

Conclusion It was very helpful if you have the abilities to use the laboratory apparatus or other biochemistry tool. The smoothness on doing the lab practical is ensured. Measuring volumes is quicker than weighing. Plus, dilution of a concentrated solution is a practical method to make solutions that are diluted you would have trouble weighing the solute.

References Olmsted, J., and G.M. Williams. 1997. Chemistry: The Molecular Science. Wm. C. Brown Publishers: Boston. Robyt, John F and Bernard J. White. 1987. Biochemical Techniques Theory and Practice. H.Robert Horton., K.Gray Scrimgeour.,Laurence A.Moran and Marc D.Perry. Principles of Biochemistry. Publisher: Pearson.