Solutions & Solvents
In our lab, what liquid acted as the solvent?
Water.
Sodium alginate is extracted from what type of natural source?
Seaweed/Kelp
What ion in calcium lactate is responsible for the gel reaction?
Calcium
What type of chemical change happens when alginate meets calcium lactate?
Cross-linking / Gelation.
What was the solute dissolved in water to make the boba juice solution?
Sodium alginate
What role does sodium alginate play in the boba lab?
It forms the gel-like membrane around the liquid center
Calcium lactate is often produced from what natural process?
Fermentation of lactic acid
The reaction creates what structure around the juice?
A gel-like membrane (capsule)
A solution is made when a ______ dissolves in a solvent.
solute
Sodium alginate is an example of what type of large biological molecule?
Polysaccharide
Calcium has what electrical charge?
2+
What would happen if you left the boba in the calcium solution too long?
The entire sphere would turn solid (no liquid center).
What property makes sodium alginate dissolve well in water?
It is ionic/has a charge/polarity
What ion in sodium alginate gets replaced during the reaction?
Na+
Why does calcium work better than sodium for cross-linking alginate?
Double positive charge
How many ionic bonds will calcium form in this reaction?
2
Why does the solution stay liquid until it touches calcium lactate?
Because sodium ions don’t cross-link alginate; calcium ions are needed.
Why does alginate create spheres instead of flat sheets in the lab?
Surface tension pulls droplets into a spherical shape during gel formation.
Calcium lactate is often produced by fermenting this molecule, which is also made in your muscles during exercise.
Lactic acid
The __________ nature of water allows it to be a universal solvent.
Polar (+/- both on the same molecule)