Why do we boil the leaf in alcohol when we are testing it for starch?

In a starch test, we boil the leaf in alcohol to remove its chlorophyll, the green pigment that masks the presence of starch.

• When testing for starch in leaves, we need to see a color change to confirm the presence of starch.
• After removing chlorophyll by boiling the leaf in alcohol, the leaf becomes pale.
• Once iodine solution is added, it reacts with the starch in the leaf, turning it blue-black.

· This confirms that starch is present, proving that photosynthesis has taken place.