List the specific tests students have to perform on the protein samples they will be testing. Besides the ninhydrin test for alpha amino acids and the biuret test for the peptide bond, other tests for specific functional groups include the xanthoproteic, Hopkins-Cole, Millon's, nitroprusside and the test for amino acid cystine.
Refer to the laboratory manual and find out the reagents necessary for each of these tests along with the specific concentration. For example, the biuret test requires 3M sodium hydroxide and 1 percent copper sulfate solutions and the ninhydrin test reagent consists of a 0.5 percent solution of ninhydrin in ethanol.
Read the test procedure to find out the volume of each reagent necessary for a test. Multiply this volume by the number of students whom you expect to perform the test. Round off this figure to the volume that is closest to the capacity of the volumetric flask you plan to use to prepare the solution. For example, if each student requires 1 ml of 3M sodium hydroxide solution for three different tests, and you expect 25 students to perform these tests, you need 75 ml of the reagent. In this instance, write down the volume you need to prepare as 100 ml.
Prepare a list of ingredients necessary for each reagent, along with the quantities you require. For example, the ninhydrin reagent is a 0.5 percent solution of ninhydrin in ethanol. This means 0.5 grams or 500 milligrams of ninhydrin in 100 ml of ethanol. If you need 50 ml of this reagent, note down the quantity of ninhydrin as 0.25 grams or 250 milligrams, and the volume of ethanol as 50 ml.
Collect all necessary ingredients from the chemical store. Follow the procedure the laboratory manual specifies to prepare each reagent and store it in a neatly labeled container under the prescribed conditions of temperature.