When yeast carries out a reaction called fermentation, hydrogen ions are released into the surrounding substance. What could you mix with the substance to prove that this reaction is taking place and how do you know it would work?
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Ms.Sue I looked at it. But theres no one responding. Is there anyone in your department who knows Biochemistry
To prove that fermentation is taking place and to detect the release of hydrogen ions, you can use a pH indicator solution. One commonly used pH indicator solution is bromothymol blue.
Here's how you can proceed:
1. Prepare a sample of the substance in which fermentation is suspected to occur. This could be a mixture of yeast and a sugar solution, such as glucose.
2. Obtain a small amount of bromothymol blue solution. This pH indicator starts out as green in a neutral solution, but changes to yellow in an acidic environment, indicating the presence of hydrogen ions.
3. Add a few drops of the bromothymol blue solution to the mixture containing the yeast and sugar. Make sure to mix it well.
4. Observe the change in color of the solution. If fermentation is occurring, the yeast will produce carbon dioxide and alcohol as byproducts, causing the solution to become acidic. This acidity will be indicated by the change in color of the bromothymol blue from green to yellow.
It is expected to work because fermentation is an enzymatic process that involves the breakdown of sugar by yeast to produce carbon dioxide and alcohol. As a result of this reaction, hydrogen ions are released, making the surrounding solution more acidic. The pH indicator solution allows us to visually detect this increase in acidity by changing color, confirming the occurrence of fermentation.