Question

How would you test the presence of starch in leaves?

Answer 1

The following steps are to be followed while testing for starch:

•Take a leaf in a beaker and boil it in water as this step stops all the biochemical reactions.
•Then boil the leaf in alcohol, this step helps in removing chlorophyll and other pigment.
•Then after that we wash the leaf in cold water, this makes it less sensitive to breakage.
•Then place the leaf on a watch glass and pour some iodine solution over it.
•Leaf will turn blue-black indicating the presence of starch.
(3 marks)