Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Is it possible to determine nitrate in foods (lettuce) using IC-MS-MS?

I believe it would be possible, though I'll defer to the chemists as to whether it is practical. Simpler approaches might suffice, or be better. Aren't you working with a chemist with access to the IC/MS/MS? Have you talked with that person about this question?
Also, can you fill us in a little more about how this question relates to your project that you described earlier?
http://www.sciencebuddies.com/science-f ... =28&t=3583
Thanks,
Chris

I was curious to check the lettuce samples for nitrate as well as perchlorate. It is said that leafy vegetables build up nitrate in green houses. In California, how is it that fresh letttuce is still available during the winter. Is it because of green houses? Would anyone know of groceries that would have green house lettuce in northern California?

I have never noticed any green house grown lettuce in the stores, and I doubt there is much large scale farming of lettuce in greenhouses in California. It grows just fine outdoors. I usually have some my garden at this time of the year. If you want to know more about these sorts of agricultural questions, I'd recommend contacting an extension specialist at the University of California. http://ucanr.org/findinformation.cfm

Nitrate also accumulates in lettuce growing in fields, so you should also be able to get some measurements from field grown plants.

Will I lose a lot of nitrate if I boil down the lettuce extract? What temperature will it start to decompose?

Tim,
Why don't you run some tests to find out? Make a solution, measure the concentration, then boil it down by 50% and measure the concentration again.

How is the rest of your project going?

Chris