Iron Chef Lab Introduction

Along with the unit final, another important project is in the brewing called "The Iron Chef Lab." Basically we selected "Mystery Ingredients" and had/have to generate a lab around it, involving nutrition and the concepts we have been studying. Our mystery ingredients were frozen corn, canned corn, and an ear of corn.
As following the Scientific Method, our steps were to:

1. Ask questions and observe
2. Research
3. Develop a hypothesis
4. Create an experiment with a detailed procedure and quantifiable results
5. Analyze results
6. Formulate a conclusion

To start we formulated questions that could potential be experimented with. Also, we dived a little deeper into the types of corn we had, to see if any of this would lead up to an experiment idea.

Next came research. At first we decided we wanted to do something about the different nutritional value in each different type of corn, so we researched about which is most healthy and such. Then after talking with our science teacher, Neto, we decided to switch gears and experiment with BPA, which is a toxic chemical found in plastics and metals, that is known to seep into food.

 To make our research worthwhile, I pinned down the aspects that would actual help us in our experiment, and each person researched one of these topics.

This was my portion of the research, and the rest was split up by the other members in the group.

We did have some problems with our research, as we found the chemicals needed to create a replica of BPA, but not the actual amounts. Also, we could not find the leakage rates of BPA in canned, or plastic packaged foods. I could not even find the slightest thing about there being higher leakage rates in cans. In our experiment we were going to cut an ear of corn into three pieces, and add proportional amounts to two of the sections based on the leakage rates of metal and plastic. The third section was going to be the control group since there is no BPA leakage in organic, non-packaged corn.

Right now I think we have a great idea/plan for the experiment, it is just that we need to fill a few holes in our research before we can move forward.