Tag: Iodine solution

In a well-documented chemical test used for centuries, adding an iodine solution to a starch-rich food like a potato causes a dramatic color change. When a few drops of iodine solution are added to a boiled potato, it turns a distinct blue-black, revealing a fascinating and easily observable scientific principle.

Over 50% of the carbohydrates humans consume come from starch, a complex carbohydrate produced by plants. A simple and classic method to determine what can the presence of starch be tested with is by using an iodine-potassium iodide solution, which produces a distinctive blue-black color change in a positive test.

Did you know plants store excess energy as starch, a key complex carbohydrate in our diets? Determining its presence is a fundamental aspect of nutrition and food science, and there is a very simple and reliable method to tell if the food contains starch or not using a common household item.

The well-known starch-iodine reaction has been used for centuries to detect carbohydrates. The most common test to detect the presence of starch relies on a simple chemical reaction using iodine solution, which produces a dramatic color change to indicate a positive result. This technique is used widely in biology and food science experiments.