Procedure:
Materials:
Sucrose Maltose Petri Dishes
Glucose Lactose Plastic spoons
Fructose Soluble Starch Paper cups
Galactose Cellulose Tap water
Part I
Find images of the eight tested carbohydrates (seen in order above procedure).
Part II
Place small samples of each carbohydrate on a paper towel with portions for you and your group. Use a fingertip to taste each one and evaluate its sweetness using an arbitrary scale from 1 to 200, 200 being the sweetest. Record results on a data table, including carb name, sweetness, appearance, texture and purpose.
Results
Analyses
Monosacharides seemed to taste sweeter than molecules with more rings, This may be because they are easy to break down and are used for energy. In the test, both participants gave similar evaluations, but other tests may be affected by what testers ate directly before (the lab was done right after lunch). As stated earlier, we found that a carbohydrate arranged in a ring with hydrogen atoms branching vertically were perceived as the sweetest.
Reflection
Out of all the labs we have done so far, this would be my favorite. This is the first time I have ever earned a grade for eating sugar (not all of it sweet). Nothing encourages cooperation like food, so my partner and I worked quickly and efficiently. One idea for improvement would be to give the names of the carbohydrates before we ate them, so as not to skew out taste perception. Also, maybe a warning could be given as to the adverse effects of cellulose. To the best of my knowledge, there were no major accidents, but this may not be the case next time.
Monosacharides seemed to taste sweeter than molecules with more rings, This may be because they are easy to break down and are used for energy. In the test, both participants gave similar evaluations, but other tests may be affected by what testers ate directly before (the lab was done right after lunch). As stated earlier, we found that a carbohydrate arranged in a ring with hydrogen atoms branching vertically were perceived as the sweetest.
Reflection
Out of all the labs we have done so far, this would be my favorite. This is the first time I have ever earned a grade for eating sugar (not all of it sweet). Nothing encourages cooperation like food, so my partner and I worked quickly and efficiently. One idea for improvement would be to give the names of the carbohydrates before we ate them, so as not to skew out taste perception. Also, maybe a warning could be given as to the adverse effects of cellulose. To the best of my knowledge, there were no major accidents, but this may not be the case next time.