1. Salty and Sweet Cracker Lab
Question: Are there organic compounds in foods such as, a cracker or tortilla chip?
If so, how are these macromolecules broken down so our body can use them as energy?

2. What do you taste…?
Put a small piece of cracker or chip in your mouth. DO NOT CHEW!
Let the cracker dissolve in your saliva. (This could take several minutes.)
Make a T chart.
Left side “I notice”
Right side “I wonder”
Must have qualitative and quantitative observations. (6-8 for each)

3. Guiding Questions – write in your journal
What do you taste at first?
How is the texture of the cracker or chip changing?
What do you taste after a minute?
Why do you think this is happening?

4. Explanation – Write in your journal
Sugar and starch are carbohydrates.
Each molecule of carbohydrates is made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.
Energy holds the atoms together and when carbohydrates are broken down the energy is released for use by the body. Also, heat is released.

5. Explanation
Carbohydrates that can be digested are broken down into smaller molecules by enzymes in the saliva.
Enzymes are chemicals in saliva that break down food. These are also present in the stomach.

6. Further Organic Compound Investigation
What are the 4 types of organic compounds?
How are these nutrients used by your body?

7. Questions Have you ever wondered what’s in your food?
Scientists use a variety of test to determine the organic compounds in food.

8. Directions Login to Gizmo. Launch Identifying Nutrients.
Answer this in a complete sentence in your journal.
How can you determine what organic compounds are in mystery foods?

9. Collect Data
Glue or copy the data table from Activity B in your journal.
Draw the
experimental
set up and label.

10. Analyze
Is sample A most likely to be steak, bread, or butter? EXPLAIN.
Is sample G most likely to be table sugar, pasta, or olive oil? EXPLAIN.
Is sample M most likely to be chicken, rice, or butter? EXPLAIN.
Sample A is most likely to be steak because…(reference data table & test indicators)

11. Lugol’s Test for Starch
Get a paper towel for you and your partner, a piece of chip, and an eyedropper of iodine solution.
Break up the chip and mound together on the paper towel. Put some drops of iodine on it.
Describe what happens. Explain what this tells you about the chip.

12. Draw Conclusions What organic compounds are in a cracker?
What elements make up a carbohydrate?
What happens when carbohydrates are broken down?
Answer the questions in paragraph form and relate this to why your salty cracker began to taste sweet after a few minutes in your mouth.