Performance Task #2

Yeast Fermentation
Performance Task Description: Based on what you have learned from our topic on anaerobic
respiration, you are to perform a simple sugar fermentation using yeast. You are to observe how
yeasts break down sugar by the way the process produces gas as one of the by-products.
What you need:
Yeasts (You can buy it from any dry market, especially from those who sell bakery
ingredients stuffs. You will be needing a small amount so buy the amount
you will need only.)
Water (body-temperature)
Funnel
Table sugar
3 transparent clear bottles (plastic or glass)
3 small inflatable balloons
Tape measure
Any video/photo capturing device
Instructions:
1. Depending on the size of your bottles, using a funnel, pour a SAME AMOUNT of yeasts
on each bottle. Say for example, a teaspoon of yeasts on each bottle. Next, add a
differing amount of table sugar on each bottle. Say for example, one teaspoon for bottle
1, two teaspoons for bottle 2 etc.
2. Pour a SAME AMOUNT of water (in body-temperature) on each bottle. For example,
one cup of water on each bottle. Cover the bottles and gently stir or shake the mixtures.
3. Put one balloon on each bottle, making sure no air or gas will leak out, and leave them
for half an hour, an hour and an hour and a half (interval of 30 minutes).
4. Observe and take a photo of the resulting characteristics of the mixture and what
happened to the balloons after those time intervals in number 3. Measure the
circumference of the balloons, as well as the height of the foaming mixture in each
bottle.
5. Use the post-laboratory sheet provided for your observations and answers. Refer to the
guide questions below for your Discussion and Analysis.
Guide Questions:
1. What are yeasts?
2. What is a table sugar? Research on its chemical name and structure.
3. What happened when yeasts are mixed to sugar in a water medium, and left for
a period of time? Explain how yeasts break down sugar. Discuss briefly
yeast/lactic acid fermentation.
4. What are the reactants? What are the products? Write the overall chemical
reaction equation for this experiment.
5. What accounts for the differing sizes of the inflation of the balloons?
6. Cite some real-life application of yeast fermentation.
6. Properly and safely dispose all mixtures after the experiment.

NOTE:
1. Label the bottles for easy reference. Example: Bottle 1, Bottle 2 etc.
 2.

2.
2. Observe precautionary measure,
for the experiment could generate heat and gas.
3. Keep the experiment away from children, and dispose the mixture immediately after.
4. You are working with yeast, a live microorganism, so handle it carefully and keep the
raw material in a safe place.