Understanding Solution Chemistry the “Southern Way” with Sweet Tea

 

Robyn Puffenbarger

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2011, Volume 32

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)