Question

When carrying out the starch test on a leaf, why is it important to boil the leaf in alcohol?

(a) to dissolve the waxy cuticle
(b) to make the cells more permeable to iodine solution
(c) to remove the chlorophyll
(d) to stop chemical reactions in the cells.

Answer 1

(c) to remove the chlorophyll

When carrying out the starch test, it is important to remove the chlorophyll by boiling the leaf in alcohol. This is done because the green colour of the chlorophyll interferes with the iodine test.