Using methylene blue as an artificial hydrogen acceptor in respiration - practical activity

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this is a practical activity worksheet that concisely describes the classic experiment involving methylene blue as an artificial hydrogen acceptor in respiration. The experiment involves setting up three test tubes (two with yeast and methylene blue, one without yeast as a control) and observing the decolouration of methylene blue as it is gradually reduced due to the respiratory activity of yeast. The activity sheet contains the technical details of solutions required, a table for students to record their observations and a series of questions that probe student's understanding of the biochemistry involved with these observations. Answers to the questions are provided on the second, duplicate, worksheet.

Key words: Respiration, glucose, NAD, methylene blue, reduction, oxidation, yeast, control