Question

If a fresh beetroot is cut up,the pieces washed in water and then left for an hour in a beaker of water,little or no red pigment does escape from the cells into the water.If the beetroot is boiled first,the pigmentdoes escape into the water.Bearing in mind the properties of a living cell membrane,offer an explanation for this difference​

Answer 1

Answer:

These is because the plasma membrane of beetroot cells denatures & breaks down at high temperature causing content of cell i.e color to leak out in hot water.At cold temperature,the plasma membrane does not break or denature,so no color is released out in cold water.

Answer 2

Answer:

The protein in the membrane can be denatured by heat. Beetroot cells contain betalain, a bright red, water soluble pigment, in the cell vacuoles. If the cell membranes are damaged the pigment can escape from the cells and can be detected in an aqueous medium around the tissue.