Fresh pineapple gelatin: Development of a nonscience major's experiment

CHED 402

Lindsay M. Stronz, craymond@oswego.edu, Andrew M. Camelio, and Casey C. Raymond, craymond@oswego.edu. Department of Chemistry, SUNY Oswego, 221 Snygg Hall, Oswego, NY 13126
We will present the creation a laboratory experiment for a non-science majors, introductory chemistry laboratory course which demonstrates the scientific method. We have developed the experiment to be adapted for elementary science education, as this course has a high percentage of elementary education majors. The experiment involves the study of a group of protease enzymes in fresh pineapple, known as bromelain, and how it prevents gelatin from setting. There are several possible factors that may inhibit the enzyme and students will be challenged to determine which are the most likely.