Apparatus & Techniques Flashcards
spectroscope
measures the properties of different wavelengths of light
calirometer
measures the heat produced in a chemical reaction
simple fermenter
used to grow bacteria and fungi in large amounts
fermenter: steam inlet
sterilises and prevents contamination
fermenter: nutrient inlet
provides nutrients for the bacteria to grow
fermenter: water jacket
keeps temperature at optimum
fermenter: air inlet
lets in oxygen for aerobic respiration
fermenter: filter on air inlet
prevents microorganisms contaminating
fermenter: stirring paddles
mixes microorganisms with nutrients
fermenter: pH probe
checks pH is at optimum
fermenter: acid & alkali intake valve
changes pH if required
chromatography
used to separate photosynthetic pigments
chromatography process
- grind leaf with sand and solvent to break open cells
- filter solution
- drop a spot of solution onto chromatography paper
- dry with hairdryer
- repeat spotting & drying multiple times to create strong concentration of pigment
- place chromatography paper in a boiling tube with chromatography solvent (not touching the spot)
Rf value
distance moved by pigment/distance moved by solvent
gel electrophoresis
separates macromolecules eg. DNA fragments
PCR process
- DNA heated to 92-98 (break strands open)
- Cooled to 50-65 (complementary primers bind to target DNA sequences)
- heated to 70-80 (heat tolerant polymerase replicates region)
- repeat multiple times
how does a respirometer function?
- oxygen usage causes coloured liquid to move, caused by the reduction in volume of oxygen increasing pressure
- tubes contain alkali to absorb carbon dioxide
- glass beads used as a control
