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About This Simulation
Relevant pigments using different solvents and measure their absorbance spectra to help a group of engineers figure out if a mysterious dark algae is able to absorb green light. Your work will help create a sustainable plan for energy production that will use sunlight, heat from a coal power plant, and nutrients from a fish farm.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the importance and uses of photosynthesis
- Understand properties of light and why pigments are colorful
- Analyze the absorbance spectra and chemical properties of pigments
- Develop a hypothesis and set up an experiment to test it
About This Simulation
Lab Techniques
- Centrifugation
- Spectrophotometry
- Pigment Extraction
Related Standards
- HS-LS1-5
- Topic 2.2: Cell Structure and Function
- 2.9: Photosynthesis
Learn More About This Simulation
It has been decided in a town in northwest Alaska that environmental protection should be prioritized. A team of engineers has therefore been hired to help them out. Roxy, the leader of the project, will take you on a journey over the sea and show you that the most problematic facilities are the coal power plant and the fish farm. To mitigate the problem, she has come up with the brilliant idea to produce biofuel from algae using the excess of nutrients from the fish farm and the heat and CO2 from the coal plant.
Extract pigments from algae
When scuba diving, Roxy found some mysterious dark algae, and now she needs your help to figure out if they have pigments that can absorb green light. Most plants are green, so they reflect this colour and absorb other wavelengths, which they use for photosynthesis. However, green is a major component of the visible light spectrum, so combining algae that use green light with algae that use other wavelengths maximises the use of sunlight. In this simulation, you will extract pigments from algae using different solvents and measure their absorbance spectra.
Where are the pigments?
When you get to the lab, Dr. One, your virtual lab assistant, has already prepared a selection of different fractions from the mysterious algae Roxy brought. Since you are interested in obtaining pigments, you need to choose the correct one. Nuclear fraction? Or perhaps chloroplasts? In case you don’t know and pick the wrong one, you can have another go. This is a virtual lab, meaning you can make as many mistakes as you need to get it right!
What solvents to use?
Most pigments, such as chlorophyll, are hydrophobic. However, some have different conjugated systems that make them chemically diverse. Since your aim is to extract all the pigments from the dark algae, you must think carefully about what types of solvents you need to use in order to do that.
Can the dark algae absorb green light?
Once you’ve done a series of centrifugations and used liquid nitrogen to snap freeze the pigments, it’s time to find out if the pigment extracts can absorb green light. For that, you will obtain and analyze the absorption spectra using a spectrophotometer. Will these algae hold the key to producing biofuel from pollutants and maximizing the use of the visible light spectrum?
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For Science Programs Providing a Learning Advantage
North Dakota State College of Science
“They did the simulation at home, then completed the in-person lab within 30 minutes, no questions asked, and passed the quiz with flying colors.”
Lecturer in Human Physiology
University of Westminster
"I saw some of the students who clearly didn’t necessarily like sitting there reading a book discover they could turn on Labster and keep up with the rest of the class because it spoke to them.
Modesto City Schools
"Having something that's engaging for the students gives teachers that opportunity to breathe and get excited again. Because they're seeing the kids light up, they're seeing the kids engage with content."
Wenatchee Valley College
"The question always is, ‘Can we demonstrate that the students are meeting course outcomes?’ Check! We can do that.”
San José State University
"We surveyed over 400 students. More than 90% thought Labster was easy to navigate, and that it was fun, but more importantly, most of them felt confident that they could execute the labs in person. And that confidence is a big deal."
FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions.
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Labster can be integrated within a school's LMS (Learning Management System), and students can access it like any other assignment in their LMS. If your Institution does not choose an LMS integration, students will log in to Labster's Course Manager once they have an account created. Your institution will decide the access method during the sales process.
Labster is only available for purchase by faculty and administration at academic institutions. To procure Labster, simply reach out to us on our website. Schedule a demo, book a meeting to discuss pricing, start a free trial, or simply fill out our contact form.
Labster simulations are created by real scientists and designed with unparalleled interactivity. Unlike point and click competitors, Labster simulations immerse students and encourage mastery through active learning.
Labster supports a wide range of courses at the high school and university level across fields in biology, chemistry and physics. Some simulations mimic lab procedures with high fidelity to train foundational skills, while others are meant to bring theory to life through interactive scenarios.