C1 We burn sugar (teacher instructions)

This is a typical introductory experiment to the overall topic of energy supply in the human body, cellular respiration, and the respiratory chain. Three straightforward subexperiments (combustion of sugar with and without a catalyst and verification of water and carbon dioxide [CO2] in exhaled air) suggest the obvious explanation that sugar is also burned in the human body. The analogy between heterogeneous catalysis in the combustion of sugar in the experiment and biocatalytic combustion in the body leads on to the topic of energy metabolism and cellular respiration in the human body. In the age range up to 16 years, a qualitative interpretation of the experimental results may suffice. In specialized teaching in the age group 16+, teachers must go into the subject matter in considerably more detail independently of the experiment, provided adequate prior knowledge can be assumed. The materials and apparatus supplied allow eight groups of students to conduct the experiments simultaneously.

The experiment comprises three subexperiments:
• Sugar can be burned
• Verification of reaction products in the air that is breathed: Substance A
• Verification of reaction products in the air that is breathed: Substance B

Notes:
• Observe the safety information in the instructions as well as the applicable safety guidelines for your school.
• All materials mentioned in the instructions will have to be purchased directly from commercial sources.

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Biology; Chemistry

Grade 5 to 6; Grade 7 to 9; Grade 10 to 13

Middle/high school

Carbohydrate; Enzyme; Fats; Health; Metabolism; Nutrition; Respiration; Sugar

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