 A Vitamin C experiment.  Over the next two classes we will proof or disproof the following Hypothesis  “When carrots are boiled in water, vitamin C will be lost in the carrots. This will be evidenced by an increase in the Vitamin C content of the water in which the carrots were boiled “

 Describe the preparation of a test solution to detect the presence of Vitamin C, and the colour change expected in the presence of vitamin C  How is Vitamin C taken into the body? Give examples of why it is so essential that in our diets.  What disease is associated with a severe lack of Vitamin C what are its symptoms?  How can we ensure the experiment is kept fair?

 Why do you think we need Vitamin C experiment in our diet?  How do we obtain vitamin C, is it produced by our cells or is it obtained externally?  Can you name any diseases associated with a deficiency in Vitamin C?  For this experiment what is the single most important thing we must be able to do?

 Vitamin C is water soluble vitamin that is essential for normal growth and development  Because it is water soluble it is continually being broken down and excreted in the urine, therefore we need a continuous supply of vitamin C in our diet  Vitamin C cannot be produced by our cells and therefore must be taken in externally through food sources!!

 All fruits and vegetable contain Vitamin C nut those with the highest content include…  Strawberries. Raspberries, Cranberries, Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, Spinach and Carrots.

 Forms the important protein Collagen that is needed to make new skin cells, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons.  Heal wounds and form scar tissue  Repair and maintain cartilage, bones and teeth.  Act as an Antioxidants, which are nutrients that block the damage caused by free radicals, a cause of cancer.

 Scruvy is caused by a severe lack of vitamin C.  Symptoms include: in the early stages extreme tiredness as the disease progress shortness of breath and bone pain intensifies.  Loss of teeth is common and wounds fail to heal.  In later stages fever and convulsions lead to death.  The disease is now considered rare in the first world due to improved diet but still occurs in poorer countries where diets are lacking in nutrition.

 Fill a regular beaker with deionised water. Add ½ teaspoon of corn flour. Heat on a hot plate until dissolved. Set aside to cool.  Place one teaspoon of this solution into a beaker of deionised water. Add 4 drops of iodine solution and stir.  The solution turn dark blue, this is our test solution.  Place one Vitamin C tablet in the beaker and observe the colour change. If the solution changes from a dark blue colour to a clear solution the presence of Vitamin C is detected.

 Now prepare a second test solution using the same method.  Place 2 boiling tubes side by side. Pour deionised water into one tube until it is ¾ full.  Using an eye dropper add drops of the vitamin C test solution until you begin to see the water turning slightly blue.  Record the no. of drops taken for a colour change to be detected (it may take 50 or 60 drops!)

 Cut a carrot into small pieces or slivers. Place the pieces in a beaker filled with deionised water. Bring to the boil for 5-6 minutes.  Using a funnel pour the water from the beaker into the second test tube until it is exactly ¾ full also.  Using a dropper add the vitamin C test solution to the carrot water.  If vitamin C is present in the water, the water will not show any signs of turning blue when the same number of drops are added that were added to the water before carrots were cooked in it.

 Can you fill the rest of the rest boiling tube and still not see any shades of blue?  If so a significant amount of Vitamin C must be present.  What conclusions can we draw from this result??  Have we proofed or disproved the set Hypothesis??  Record a conclusion based on the results you obtained explaining all date you obtained.

 Research a second disease (not Scurvy) associated with a deficiency in Vitamin C in the body.  Identify its symptoms in its early and later stages.  Identify a possible treatment and prevention.  Do some research and find out as much information as you can about the disease/illness you have selected.