NSWTR 2024 HR - Flipbook - Page 47
YEAR 7-8 SECTION
STAGE 4 – SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
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Note - if you don’t have access to a lab, you can adjust pH by using kitchen vinegar.
Glucose sticks and glucadin are available at pharmacies and litmus paper to test pH
can be ordered online. You could also make a universal indicator using cabbage juice.
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CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF WHALE SNOT – FOR TEACHERS
TEACHER PREPARATION
Each student, or team of students will need a Whale Snot Testing Kit containing:
4 mL of whale snot. Prepare the simulated whale snot by gently mixing 2 parts clear washing
up liquid with 1 part water. Adjust to a pH of 7 and prepare the 昀椀nal solution so that it contains
0.1% glucose or Glucodin Powder, which should place it around the range of about 100 mg/dL.
A plastic 1 mL pipette
Small beakers and/or petri dishes to store and test samples
pH test – universal indicator and colour chart
Protein test – Biuret (0.1 M CuSO4 and 1 M NaOH)
Glucose test – Glucose sticks
SAFETY FIRST – STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND
LAB STAFF MUST WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES WHEN
HANDLING CHEMICALS AND ENSURE STUDENTS DO
AS WELL. CHEMICALS MUST BE HANDLED AND DISPOSED
OF ACCORDING TO THE LABELS ON THE BOTTLES.
SPECIES SURVIVAL – MORE THAN JUST SUSTAINABILITY
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