Design an experiment to show that an increase in temperature influences the release of red pigment from beetroot.

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Biology Coursework – Plan

Design an experiment to show that an increase in temperature influences the release of red pigment from beetroot.

When doing the experiment there are a lot of things to consider which could affect the dependant variable if not controlled which would make the experiment unfair and change the results.  The size of the beetroot will be controlled with a cork borer so that all the pieces have the same surface area, which is important because this is where the pigment is released.  The volume of the water needs to be controlled as the amount of water could affect the concentration of pigment.  The amount of time in the water the beetroot spends could affect the depth of pigment.  Finally damage to cells could affect results by pigment from burst cells so to control this the beetroot pieces will be washed before use to get rid of any excess pigment.

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  1. Using a cork borer bore out 5 pieces of beetroot and cut them all to 2cm making sure there is no skin left on them.
  2. Take 5 beakers and fill them with 100ml of water.
  3. Heat the water to the temperatures 20°C, 40°C, 60°C, 80°C, and 100°C, using Bunsen burners where necessary, and checking the temperature with a thermometer.
  4. When the water is at the right temperature turn the Bunsen burner off, put a piece of beetroot into the water and start a stopwatch.
  5. After 10 minutes take out the beetroot and take a sample ...

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