SBL1023

TECHNIQUES IN BIOLOGICAL AND

BICHEMISTRY LABORATORY

MINI PROJECT LEARNING REFLECTION

(screening of vitamin C amount in trees with sapling lowland)

NAME RABI ANI BINTI ASMALA

MATRIC NO E20161013756
GROUP GROUP A
LECTURER ASSOCIATE PROF DR SHAKINAZ DESA
 OVERALL VIEW OF OUR MINI PROJECT

In this mini project, we are going to determine the amount of vitamin C present in tree leaves

by redox titration using iodine solution. The plants that we used in this experiment are forest

trees from different area. In this titration process, the iodine solution were served as titrant

while starch solution served as indicator. As the iodine solution were added during titration,

the ascorbic acid was oxidised to dehydroascorbic acid. Due to this reaction, the iodine

formed immediately reduced to iodide ions as long as there are any ascorbic acid present.

Once all the ascorbic acid has been oxidised, the excess iodine react with the starch indicator

forming blue-black starch-iodine complex. This is the endpoint of our titration. The amount of

titrant which is iodine solution used were recorded and that is the amount of vitamin C.

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in

fruits, vegetables and same other foods. Vitamin C is an essential dietary component for

human because humans are unable to synthesize vitamin C endogenously. Vitamin C is also

an essential physiological antioxidant needed by the human and has been shown to regenerate

other antioxidants within the body. Vitamin C also essential for plant growth and known to be

antioxidant which help plants deal with stresse from drought to ozone and UV radiation.
 FOREST TREES

Kembang semangkok (Scaphium longiflorum sp.) Pulai (Alstonia angustiloba miq sp.)

Sena (Angsana) Keruing (Dipterocarpus crinitus sp.)

Merawan ( Hopea pubescens commonly) Kuning telur (Pouteria campechiana sp.)

FLOWCHART
 RESULT

Type of plant Mass (g) Amount of Amount of Age

vitamin C (ml) vitamin C in
10 g

Merawan 2.93 29.4 100.3 4 years

( Hopea
pubescens
commonly sp.)

Keruing 2.31 33.4 144.6 4 years

(Dipterocarpus
crinitus sp.)

Kembang 4.23 29.5 69.7 4 years

Semangkok

(Scaphium
longiflorum
sp.)

Kuning Telur 2.05 43.5 212 3 years

(Pouteria
campechiana
sp.)

Sena 2.20 32.0 145.5 3 years

(Angsana sp.)

Pulai 0.30 5.7 166.7 7 months

(Alstonia
angustiloba
sp.)
 OBSERVATION

The forest trees that we used are 3-4 years in range. Merawan, Keruing, Kembang Semangkok

are 4 years. Kuning Telur and Sena are 3 years while Pulai is 7 months. So our main focus is

for trees that belong to 3-4 years group. For our mini project, we are just screening the amount

of vitamin C in leaves because the trees that we got do not have any constant variable. Based

on the experiment, Kuning Telur has the highest amount of vitamin C in 10 g of sample.

Meanwhile, Kembang Semangkok has the lowest amount of vitamin C in 10 g of sample.

Other than that, we also extract kuning telur’s fruit to determine its vitamin c amount. Based

on data that we collected, it is shown that the fruit of kuning telur has lower vitamin C that the

leaves. So it not necessary to conclude all parts of the plant has same amount of vitamin C.

There are parts of the plant that has higher amount of vitamin C than others.
 LEARNING REFLECTION

From this mini project that I had carried out, I have learnt a lot of things. Since our

experiment is about determination the amount of vitamin C in sample, I can’t wait to get the

result of our experiment. Because from the data that we get, we can know which plant is

better to consumed as a food or health product. During this experiment, I admit that there are

some struggleness that I and my teammates faced.

Firstly, this experiment consumed a lot of time especially during the extraction of

plant leaves. We need to spend about 3-4 hours just to extract the plant leaves. But, there are

other factors why we used so many times to do that, ( talking, selfie, going to toilet and

etc....). Next, the preparation of iodine and starch solution require a detail measurement and

efficiency works. That is done by our teammates which is Nazira. The last process that we do

is titration process. We spend the less amount of time in this process because we are familiar

with this step. Probability our mistake that we have done is overshoot the iodine solution

resulting in inaccurate measurement of iodine solution used.

In this mini project, we can’t do the comparison between 6 forest trees because we do

not have a constant variable ( light intensity, soil nutrient, water ) for the plant. So we just

screening the amount of vitamin C present. For our future, Insha Allah I would like to

continue this research for further level. Not only determination of vitamin C, maybe glucose,

lipid and citric acid. We can planting the plant ourselves so that it get the same light intensity,

water and also soil nutrient. Only after that we can get the comparison between them. During

my practical, I will apply the laboratory techniques and safety rules that I have learnt in this

course.