Understanding Solution Chemistry the “Southern Way” with Sweet Tea

 

Robyn Puffenbarger

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2011, Volume 32

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Abstract

Solution chemistry is one of the most important and most confusing aspects of biology. In many labs outside academia, understanding concentration units such as M, % and X is critical. Thus, students need the ability to manage several different ways to think about and calculate solution concentrations. A first lab in biochemistry is often the time to introduce topics including solution chemistry. This lab exercise requires each student to make a different M solution of tea with sucrose, i.e. sweet tea. We then do a blind taste test to how various concentrations of sucrose correlate to tasting “sweet.”

Keywords:  Biochemistry, solution chemistry, molarity

Dalhousie University (2010)

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