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Characteristics of Life LabPSI BiologyName_________________________ProblemWhat defines a living thing?Materials Per student: 15 cm square wax paper 2 toothpicks Per group:Hands lens1 tablespoon of sugar (per group)? cup of water at about 45 degrees Celsius (per group)8 clear plastic bottles (4 oz – 16 oz) 8 balloons (15 inch)Measuring spoons? cup measuring cupPlastic funnelGlucose stripsWatch or timerMystery Matter #1Mystery Matter #2Procedure Collect the wax paper and toothpicks. Place 5 – 10 drops of Mystery Matter #1 on the paper. Be sure to have drops of a variety of sizes on the paper.Look at the droplets with a hand lens and probe these samples with your toothpicks. Record your observations. Does this matter exhibit life-like characteristics? Explain.Place Mystery Matter #2 on the wax paper and use the hand lens to examine the matter. Record your observations. Does this matter exhibit life-like characteristics? Explain.To further examine if the 2 types of Mystery Matter are living we will look at whether these samples use sugar for energy. Label the plastic bottles 1-8. Add sugar and water in the amounts described below in Table 1.Table 1: Solution DirectionsBottle #Amount of Mystery Matter #1Amount of SugarAmount of Hot Water1? tsp.none? cup2? tsp.? tsp.? cup3? tsp.? tsp.? cup4? tsp.1 tsp.? cupBottle #Amount of Mystery Matter #2Amount of SugarAmount of Hot Water5? tsp.none? cup6? tsp.? tsp.? cup7? tsp.? tsp.? cup8? tsp.1 tsp.? cupDip a glucose strip into the first bottle. Repeat this step using new strips for each bottle. Record your results below.Place empty balloons over each of the bottles.Gently shake the bottle’s contents to uniformly mix the substances together.Record the appearance of the bottles below. Allow the bottle to set for 30 minutes.After the 30-minute period has elapsed, gently shake the bottles again and record your observations below.Let the bottles sit for another 30 minutes. Record your observations below.Find a safe place to store your bottles for a 24-hour period. Record your results after the 24-hour period has elapsed.Remove the balloons and test each bottle for glucose. Record your results below.DataTable 2: ResultsTimeApproximate Balloon Volume123456780 min20 min20 min24 hoursTimeGlucose Present (Y/N)123456780 min20 min20 min24 hoursAnalysis List the characteristics of all living things.Based on your analysis is Mystery Matter #1 alive? Mystery Matter #2? Why?What did the presence of sugar and gas indicate? Explain.Do you think that determining whether a substance is living is something that can always be done with a quick test? Explain. ................
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