Name: Date:
Student Exploration: Identifying Nutrients
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: carbohydrate, disaccharide, lipid, monosaccharide, polysaccharide, protein, starch
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What are the major types of nutrients you can get from food?
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water
2. How are these nutrients used by your body?
proteins are used to build body structures such as muscles. fats are used for cells, insulation,
and energy, and carbohydrates are used for energy. Vitamins and minerals have multiple
functions.
Gizmo Warm-up
Have you ever wondered what is in your food? Scientists use a variety of
tests to determine the nutritional content of food. You will learn four of
those tests with the Identifying Nutrients Gizmo.
1. Below the Food samples label, drag tube A into the Food sample
holder. Below the Benedict test, click the Test button. What is done
in the Benedict test?
The food sample and Benedict solution are added to a
test tube. The tube is heated in a water bath for five
minutes.
2. The Benedict test is a test for monosaccharides; simple sugars like
glucose or fructose (fruit sugar). In contact with monosaccharides, the
Benedict solution turns from blue to green to orange.
Does Sample A contain monosaccharides? Yes
Note: Disaccharides such as sucrose (table sugar) and lactose (milk sugar) are more complex than
monosaccharides. The Benedict test does not detect disaccharides directly.
Student Exploration: Identifying Nutrients
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: carbohydrate, disaccharide, lipid, monosaccharide, polysaccharide, protein, starch
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What are the major types of nutrients you can get from food?
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water
2. How are these nutrients used by your body?
proteins are used to build body structures such as muscles. fats are used for cells, insulation,
and energy, and carbohydrates are used for energy. Vitamins and minerals have multiple
functions.
Gizmo Warm-up
Have you ever wondered what is in your food? Scientists use a variety of
tests to determine the nutritional content of food. You will learn four of
those tests with the Identifying Nutrients Gizmo.
1. Below the Food samples label, drag tube A into the Food sample
holder. Below the Benedict test, click the Test button. What is done
in the Benedict test?
The food sample and Benedict solution are added to a
test tube. The tube is heated in a water bath for five
minutes.
2. The Benedict test is a test for monosaccharides; simple sugars like
glucose or fructose (fruit sugar). In contact with monosaccharides, the
Benedict solution turns from blue to green to orange.
Does Sample A contain monosaccharides? Yes
Note: Disaccharides such as sucrose (table sugar) and lactose (milk sugar) are more complex than
monosaccharides. The Benedict test does not detect disaccharides directly.
