Question

Jen took a piece of fresh ginger root about 2 inches long and peeled the brown root off and finely grated it. She Placed the grated ginger root into a small bowl and added the juice of one fresh lemon (about two tablespoons of juice). Then she stirred it well to mix the ginger and the lemon juice. Using the funnel, she poured one cup of sugar into a clean, two-liter bottle and added one-quarter teaspoon of yeast to the bottle. She shook the bottle to mix the sugar and yeast. Then she carefully added the ginger root mixture to the two-liter bottle. She filled the bottle with lukewarm water and Left three inches (7.5 cm) of air space at the top of the bottle. Finally, she tightened the cap on the bottle and shook it. Jen then placed the bottle n the counter in a warm spot. When she could no longer dent the sides of the bottle by squeezing, she put the bottle in the refrigerator. And refrigerated it for 12 hours. When the bottle was thoroughly chilled, she slowly unscrewed the cap to release the pressure. Jen poured the ginger ale through a kitchen strainer of coffee filter to remove the grated ginger pieces. And It was ready to drink.

1. What gas was released when she opened the bottle of ginger ale? ______________. What process produced the gas?________
2. Based on the results of Jen’s experiment, was the yeast she added to the bottle alive? Explain your answer.
3. If she released the gas from the ginger ale bottle in a room full of plants, could the plants make use of the gas? Explain your answer.
4. What happened to the rate of CO2 production when the bottle was refrigerated? Explain your answer.
5. In reference to your answer to question “D” how does refrigeration help prevent food from spoiling?

Answer 1

1 What gas was released when she opened the bottle of ginger ale? _____

Ans. Carbon dioxide gas is produced.

2 What process produced the gas?________

Ans. Fermentation reaction produced the gas. Fermentation is an anaerobic process where microorganisms like yeast will convert the sugar into alcohol, releasing carbon dioxide.

3 Based on the results of Jen’s experiment, was the yeast she added to the bottle alive? Explain your answer.

  Ans. The yeast used in this experiment is depending on sugar for cellular respiration for producing alcohol and CO2, this indicates the use of live yeast cultures in the experiment.

4 If she released the gas from the ginger ale bottle in a room full of plants, could the plants make use of the gas? Explain your answer.

Ans. Yes plants can use this gas because plants utilise CO2 for photosyntheisis.

5 What happened to the rate of CO2 production when the bottle was refrigerated? Explain your answer.?

Ans. During refrigiration CO2 production is decreased because the rate of biochemical reaction slows down in cooler temperatures.

6 In reference to your answer to question “D” how does refrigeration help prevent food from spoiling?

Ans. The food does not spoil in colder tempertures because the biochemical reactions carried out by microorganisms at cooler temperatures is very slow and hence food does not spoil.