Problem 1.1.4 Whats the Concentration?

(Optional)
Introduction
Now that you have discovered the cause of Sues illness, you will need to test the
other infected students for the presence of the menacing Neisseria meningitidis
bacteria. Many disease detection tests rely on a color change to signal the presence
of a specific invader, hormone or antibody. While it is important to know whether a
person is positive or negative for a disease, it is also helpful to have quantitative
data, indicating the level of antibodies or antigens circulating in the body. This level
may be the key to providing appropriate treatment or to tracking how a disease has
passed from person to person. Doctors check your antibody levels for a specific
illness before they administer a booster shot, an additional dose of a vaccine used to
boost the immune system. These shots are given to increase the level of
antibodies you have in your system to help keep you well.
Concentration is the measure of how much of one substance is mixed with another
substance. A solvent dissolves a solute to produce a solution. In this problem, your
task is to devise a way to determine the concentration of dye in a container of water.
You know the volume of the solvent, but how can you determine the amount of
solute, or dissolved material, in your solution? Work with your team to design and
describe a method, using any available lab equipment or measuring devices, to
solve this problem. Think about how a color change in a diagnostic laboratory test
can provide vital information during an outbreak investigation.

Equipment

Laboratory journal
1 L bottle of colored water concentration unknown
Food coloring
Beakers (various sizes)
Flasks (various sizes)
Bottles (various sizes)
String or rope
Disposable 1ml pipets
Micropipettors and tips
Graduated cylinders (various sizes)
Plastic tubing
Distilled water
Markers
Rulers
Flashlight (optional)

2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Medical Interventions Problem 1.1.4 Whats the Concentration? Page 1

Procedure
1. Observe the container of water at the front of the classroom. Your teams task is
to devise a method for determining the number of drops of food coloring that was
added to the solvent. This value will give you a way to measure the overall
concentration of dye in the liquid (drops/L of fluid).
2. Look at all of the materials that are displayed in the front of the room. You may
use any of these materials in your protocol. Ask your teacher if you require
additional pieces of equipment.
3. Discuss possible options with your team members and debate strategies.
4. In your laboratory journal, describe how you would solve the problem. Clearly
outline the method you have devised to determine the concentration of food
coloring in the bottle.
5. Explain your strategy to your teacher. When you are told to proceed, gather your
materials and try out your method.
6. Record helpful observations, drawings, graphs, and conclusions in your
laboratory journal.
7. Share your solution with the class. Discuss how well your method approximated
the concentration in the bottle.
8. As a class, decide on the best strategy for solving the problem.

Conclusion
1 Explain how color and light can be helpful when determining concentration.

2 How can a standard curve be used to determine the concentration of a solution?

9. How do you think the strategy discussed in this problem can be used to
determine the quantity of an infectious agent in body fluid samples?
2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Medical Interventions Problem 1.1.4 Whats the Concentration? Page 2

 2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Medical Interventions Problem 1.1.4 Whats the Concentration? Page 3