Objectives
To examine saliva microscopically
To determine organic molecules found in saliva through qualitative test
To analyze digestion of starch
To understand the influence of acid and bases on saliva
Chemical Symbols
CH3COOH
CuSO4
NaOH
HNO3
AgNO3
(NH4)2MoO4
BaCl2
NH4C2O4
HCl
FeCl3
HgCl2
I2
Test for Thiocyanate
a. Clear Solution
b. Yellow Solution
c. Clear Solution
comparing results from a and c : Both resulted with a colorless solution but the solution a is acidic and c
is alkaline.
Source of thiocyanate in saliva: Detoxfication of Hydrogen Cyanide
Digestion of Starch Paste
1st Black Solution
2nd Black Solution
3rd Dark Brown Solution
4th Brown Solution
5th Light Brown Solution
6th Light Brown Solution (Prediction?? Wala gipakita sa video)
Influence of Alkali
Tt 1 : Yellow soln in the upper layer and clear at the bottom with a small purple layer in the junction of 2
liquid layers
Tt 2 : Bronze Red soln
Tt 3 : Clear Yellow Solution
Tt 4 : Dark Blue Solution
Analysis 3 and 4.
3. Salivary amylase is present in the mouth and its isoenzyme is present in the intestine, however, it is
not present in the stomach. Why?
Salivary amylase is a protein. It has a short time contact with the starch and starts the digestion
of starch. Once a food bolus is swallowed and infiltrated with gastric juice in the stomach. It is
inactivated at the low pH produced by the gastric acid when it penetrates the food bolus. The pH in the
stomach is around 1.0 to 2.0 which makes it extremely acidic. It causes to the salivary amylase’s protein
structure to denature and change shape. Making it not function once it enters the stomach.
4. What is an Achromatic point and what does this suggest ?
Achromatic point in this experiment is the point in time during the action of amylase on
starch which no longer gives a colour. The reaction has come to the point that all of the starch
has been degraded. Using the iodine test we can study the activity of the salivary amylase on
starch. If we add saliva on starch, the salivary amylase present in saliva will act on starch and
converts it to maltose. The starch gives on giving blue color with iodine till it has been
consumed into maltose. At this point no colour is formed therefore this is the end point or the
achromatic point
References:
Luepker RV, Pechacek TF, Murray DM, Johnson CA, Hund F, Jacobs DR. Saliva
thiocyanate: a chemical indicator of cigarette smoking in adolescents. Am J Public Health
1981;71:1320-1324.
Catherine Peyrot des Gachons and Paul A. S. Breslin; Salivary Amylase: Digestion and
Metabolic Syndrome PMID: 27640169
Oxford University (2008) Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology DOI:
10.1093/acref/9780198529170.001.0001
https://user.eng.umd.edu/~nsw/ench485/lab5.htm
https://www.britannica.com/science/amylase
