Which reagent is used to detect the presence of protein?

Choice A rationale: High power is incorrect because high power is the second highest magnification objective lens, not the highest. High power is also called the 40x objective lens because it magnifies the specimen by 40 times. When combined with the 10x eyepiece lens, the total magnification is 400x.

Choice B rationale: Oil immersion is correct because oil immersion is the highest magnification objective lens. Oil immersion is also called the 100x objective lens because it magnifies the specimen by 100 times. When combined with the 10x eyepiece lens, the total magnification is 1000x. Oil immersion requires oil to be applied between the slide and the lens to reduce the refraction of light and increase the clarity of the image.

Choice C rationale: Low power is incorrect because low power is the second lowest magnification objective lens, not the highest. Low power is also called the 10x objective lens because it magnifies the specimen by 10 times. When combined with the 10x eyepiece lens, the total magnification is 100x.

Choice D rationale: Scanning is incorrect because scanning is the lowest magnification objective lens, not the highest. Scanning is also called the 4x objective lens because it magnifies the specimen by 4 times. When combined with the 10x eyepiece lens, the total magnification is 40x. Scanning is used to scan the whole slide and find the specimen.

Choice A rationale: Iodine is a chemical element that forms a brown solution of iodine and potassium iodide, known as iodine solution. When this solution is added to a sample that contains starch, it forms a complex with the starch molecules, which changes the color of the solution to blue-black. This is based on the fact that starch is a polysaccharide that has a helical structure, which can trap the iodine molecules inside. ²

Choice B rationale: Biuret is a chemical compound that forms a blue solution of copper (II) sulfate and sodium hydroxide, known as biuret reagent. When this reagent is added to a sample that contains proteins or peptides, it forms a complex with the copper (II) ions, which changes the color of the solution to violet or pink. This is based on the fact that proteins and peptides have peptide bonds, which have nitrogen atoms that can coordinate with the copper (II) ions. ³

Choice C rationale: Benedict's is a chemical compound that forms a blue solution of copper (II) sulfate, sodium carbonate, and sodium citrate, known as Benedict's reagent. When this reagent is heated with a sample that contains reducing sugars, such as glucose or maltose, it reduces the copper (II) ions to copper (I) ions, which form a red, orange, or green precipitate of copper (I) oxide. This is based on the fact that reducing sugars have free aldehyde or ketone groups that can donate electrons to the copper (II) ions. ⁴

Choice D rationale: Phenol red is a chemical compound that forms a red solution that is used as a pH indicator. When this solution is added to a sample that has an acidic or neutral pH, it remains red or turns yellow. When this solution is added to a sample that has an alkaline pH, it turns pink or fuchsia. This is based on the fact that phenol red has a sulfonated hydroxyquinone group that can lose or gain protons depending on the pH of the solution. ⁵

Choice E rationale: Sudan IV is a chemical compound that forms a red powder that is used as a stain for lipids. When this powder is dissolved in a solvent and added to a sample that contains lipids, such as fats or oils, it dissolves in the lipids and stains them red. When this solution is added to a sample that does not contain lipids, it remains in the solvent and does not stain the sample. This is based on the fact that Sudan IV is a nonpolar compound that can dissolve in nonpolar substances like lipids, but not in polar substances like water. ⁶.