Investigating Complex Carbohydrate vs. Simple Carbohydrate Digestion in the Small Intestine. Graehem McCommons, Joey Bolduc 1st Hour Abstract: The primary objective of this lab was to investigate the process of carbohydrate digestion and absorption in the small intestine. The goal of this lab was to observe how the small intestine’s membrane allowed allowed only certain sized molecules to travel across/diffuse through the membrane, and how it broke down larger molecules so they could diffuse through the membrane. To produce results, the reaction of Iodine (Used to identify Starch/Complex Carbohydrates) and Clinistix strips (Used to identify Glucose/Simple Carbohydrates) to a glucose solution and starch solution were recorded. After …show more content…
Each tube was placed in its own cup and the cups were filled with water (Enough to fill above the tubes). After 24 hours of the tubing resting in water, the water outside of the tubes was tested with a Clinistix strip and iodine drops. If the Clinistix strip changed color, it meant that the solution contained simple carbs (glucose in this lab). If the iodine drops turned the solution to black, it meant the solution contained complex carbs (starch in this lab). The water outside of the dialysis tubing of all the different solutions was tested with iodine, however, no cup displayed a color change/positive result, showing that starch (complex carbs) was not present in the surrounding waters. The clinistix strips reacted to the surrounding water of the tubes filled with 80% glucose solution, the 1:1 ratio of glucose and starch solution, and the 1:1 starch and Diastase enzyme solution, which means