Experiment 1315-03 Food Theme Mid-semester Full Report

Name: _______________________
CHEM 1315 Section: ______

Bioavailability of Iron

Prelab Assignment
Read the entire experiment. Submit your completed prelab questions to your TA before you
begin the lab, according to the deadline set in the syllabus.
Experimental Overview
During this experiment you will test the solubility of iron when different substances are added to
the solution. You are building your observational skills to recognize when chemical reactions are
occurring and to characterize precipitation reactions.

Application
Iron is the most abundant trace element in the human body. It is found circulating in the
blood in hemoglobin and transferrin, as well as in muscle tissue in myoglobin. It is stored in the
liver, spleen, and bone marrow in ferritin and is associated with various enzymes. Iron is
available from a variety of food sources1 and supplements, although less than 15 % of the 10-15
mg of iron in our daily diets is absorbed and usable by our bodies.
Iron in the metallic form cannot be absorbed by the human body, but dissolves as it is
oxidized by hydrochloric acid in the pH 2 environment of the stomach. This process can be
simulated in a laboratory by dissolving iron filings in a pH 2 hydrochloric acid solution. The
dissolution of iron by hydrochloric acid is represented in the following reaction equation:

Fe(s) + 2 HCl(aq) →Fe2+(aq) + 2 Cl-(aq) + H2 (g)

Formation of iron(II) is favored at low pH in the stomach. Iron absorption occurs in the
small intestine, which is strongly buffered to pH 8, resulting in oxidation of iron(II) to iron(III) in
solution. Iron(III) can be absorbed by the body or precipitate out of solution when combined with
hydroxide ions:
Fe3+(aq) + 3 OH-(aq) → Fe(OH)3 (s)

Iron(III) hydroxide is a solid that does not dissolve well in water, which prevents
absorption if this occurs. To keep iron in solution there are many molecules that can interact
with iron to maintain solubility and allow for absorption.2 How effectively iron can be absorbed
depends highly on the presence of these molecules in the small intestine and the type of ion
complexes that are formed. One example is transferrin shown below in Figure 1.

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Figure 1: Iron complexed by the iron-transport protein, transferrin.3

After a brief demonstration of metallic iron found in past cereal compositions, some of
the chemical interactions that affect iron ions between pH 2 and pH 8 will be evaluated during
this experiment.

References
1. Jacobs, A. Iron absorption. J Clin Pathol Suppl (R Coll Pathol) 1971, 5: 55–59.
2. Pereira, D.I.A., Bruggraber, S.F.A., et al. Nanoparticulate iron(III) oxo-hydroxide delivers
safe iron that is well absorbed and utilised in humans. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology,
Biology, and Medicine 10 2014, 1877–1886.
3. University of Liverpool. Transferrin. http://www.chemtube3d.com/solidstate/
BC-26-13.htm (accessed Jan 9, 2016).

Prelab Questions
1. What form of iron is used in our bodies, solid iron, iron(II) or iron(III)? Give an example of
a substance that uses each form of iron.
2. A basic safety rule in the chemistry lab is to wear safety goggles when working around
chemicals, acids, bases, flames, or heating devices. Explain why safety goggles are
required for this experiment. Base your response on the procedure of this experiment.
3. In this experiment you will be looking for signs of precipitation. In chemistry, precipitation
is when a solid is formed from a reaction. Solutions will be monitored for signs of
precipitation and other changes during this experiment. Describe how precipitates may
look if they are different sizes.

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Procedure
Part I: TA Demonstration
1. Prepare for the experiment.
a. Obtain and wear goggles.
Observations of TA Demonstration:

Part II: Behavior of Iron in Simulated Physiological Conditions

1. Continue preparing for the experiment.
b. Use the Chemicals Utilized Table to help keep track of materials obtained that
will be disposed of at the end of the experiment.
c. Record procedural notes and observations during the experiment.
d. Obtain any necessary equipment from your instructor.
2. Obtain the solutions needed for the experiment in an appropriately-sized container.
a. 50 mL of 5% sodium hydroxide solution in a labeled beaker.

Appearance of NaOH solution: _________________________________

b. 30 mL of pH 2 dissolved iron solution in a labeled beaker.

Appearance of iron solution: _________________________________

3. Test the behavior of dissolved iron with sodium hydroxide.

a. Place 5 ± 0.1 mL of pH 2 dissolved iron in a large test tube.
b. Slowly add a few drops of 5% solution of sodium hydroxide and monitor for any
changes.
c. Check the pH of the solution with pH paper by using the end of a glass stir rod to
transfer a small amount of the solution to the paper. Do not drop the pH paper
into the solution.

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 d. Continue to add sodium hydroxide dropwise until the pH is 8. Take care to not
pass pH 8.
Procedural notes: (Record the number of drops required for each step, and both pH and visual
observations) Include error values with all pH values.

4. Test the effect of different additive substances from Table 1 on dissolved iron.
a. Place 5 ± 0.1 mL of pH 2 dissolved iron in a large test tube.
b. Add 0.2 ± 0.05 g of one of the substances in Table 1, and stir to dissolve.
c. Check the pH of the solution.
d. Slowly add 5% solution of sodium hydroxide dropwise (5-10 drops at a time) until
the pH reaches 8. Record any observations.
5. Repeat step 4 two more times with two different substances from Table 1.
6. Obtain observation data for the rest of the substances in Table 1 from other groups.

Table 1 – Substances that may affect the Bioavailability of Iron

Substance Dietary Sources

ascorbic acid (vitamin C) citrus fruits, potatoes, green vegetables

oxalic acid green leafy vegetables

tannic acid tea

caffeine coffee, tea, soft drinks

histidine eggs, meat, milk (essential amino acid)

lysine hydrochloride eggs, meat, milk (essential amino acid)

methionine eggs, meat, milk (essential amino acid)

sodium carbonate antacids, calcium supplements

sodium phosphate soft drinks

citric acid soft drinks, citrus fruits

fructose honey, ripe fruits

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Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Procedural notes:

Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Procedural notes:

Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Procedural notes:

Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

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**Data from other groups**

Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:____________________________ ___

Notes:

Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:____________________________ ___

Notes:

Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:____________________________ ___

Notes:

Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:____________________________ ___

Notes:

Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:____________________________ ___

Notes:

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Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:____________________________ ___

Notes:

Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:____________________________ ___

Notes:

Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

Substance:

Initial Observations: pH = Appearance:____________________________ ___

Notes:

Observations: pH = Appearance:_______________________________

7. Clean all glassware and equipment. Dispose of all waste properly. Refer to the Chemicals
Utilized table to determine the correct quantities of disposed materials and record these
values on the waste sheets. Be sure to clean up any materials spilled during the experiment.
Please leave the laboratory in better condition than at the start of the experiment.

Chemicals Utilized Table

Chemical Name Amount Waste Type

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Data Analysis
1. Consider the method used to determine the volume of NaOH added. Is this an accurate
method of adding small volumes? What error is inherent in this method?
2. In this experiment we use pH paper. Compare the estimation and significant figures
available when using pH paper vs. a pH meter.

Possible Discussion points

 Iron undergoes an interesting journey as it travels through the human digestive tract.
Discuss the processes that occur in the stomach (pH 2) and the intestines (pH 8) and
the pH dependence of each process.
 Explain whether it is an acceptable process for manufacturers to nutritionally enrich
foods with iron filings.
 Compare all subsequent observations to the original sample. If less precipitate (ppt) was
observed in one of the other test tubes, the iron presumably interacted with a substance
and remained in solution. Draw a diagram of this process.
 The more iron is soluble, the better the chances of its absorption.
Of the substances you tested, which best enhanced the bioavailability of iron?
Which substance would hinder the intestinal uptake of iron?

 Consider the substances you tested and the sources for these substances in the
American diet. What recommendations can you make which would optimize iron
absorption?

This week’s report is a full report that you will use to practice the peer review for the end of
semester paper. The Data Analysis and Discussion questions above are expected to guide you
in developing your report. You do not have to answer all of the possible discussion points. Refer
to the Midsemester Full Report Guidelines posted to Canvas as you write your report. This
report will be turned in via turnitin.com on Canvas.

All reports must include correctly formatted references. Make sure to cite each group you collect
data from. This lab will have an unusually long list of references.