Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and other organisms create energy. Light energy is converted into chemical energy that can be stored and used. CO2, water and light are converted into glucose and oxygen. The general chemical formula for this is, CO2 + H2O + light energy → Glucose + O2.
In this experiment, we will test the relationship between the rate of photosynthesis and the water consumed by the plant; we will be testing tap water–for a control, sugar water and salt water. If we test the rate of photosynthesis in sugar, salt and tap water, then sugar water will have the fastest rate because plants use sugar as fuel.
The experiment requires nine grams of baking soda, three grams of salt, three grams of sugar, liquid dish soap, spinach leaves, and water. The instruments needed are a plastic syringe, plastic cups, a stirring rod, a one-hole punch, a 100 mL beaker, a timer, and a scale. First, use the beaker to measure out 100 mL of water and pour it into a plastic cup. …show more content…
Use the scale to measure out one gram of baking soda. Mix the solution with the stirring rod. Then add a drop or two of dish soap. Second, use a one-hole punch to cut out 90 leaf disks out of baby spinach leaves. Try to avoid the stem areas and be sure that each cut out is a full circle. Take out the plunger from the plastic syringe and drop 10 leaf discs into the cylinder. Reinsert the plunger but make sure the leaf discs aren't damaged when you press down. Next, put the tip of the syringe into the solution and pull the plunger up until you have about 15-20mL. Flip the syringe so that the tip is facing upward and press on the plunger slowly, expelling the air in the chamber. Make sure to get all of the air; lightly tapping will help. Then, cover the tip of the syringe with a finger and then pull down on the plunger, creating a vacuum in the chamber. When pulling the plunger, make sure that the leaf discs stay in the water instead of collecting on the sides of the chamber. Hold this for a count of ten and then release your finger and the plunger simultaneously. Some of the discs should start to sink. Repeat this until all of the discs sink completely but do not over do this step. After, pour the contents of the syringe into the plastic cup of solution. Be sure that all of the leaf discs make it into the cup and don't get left behind. Put the cup somewhere that light does not reach it. Repeat the earlier steps two more times and keep the cups under cover until the last one is done. Finally, uncover all three cups simultaneously and time how long it takes for five leaf discs to float in each cup. Repeat the above steps two more times. Once, with one gram of sugar additionally dissolved in the solution and then once again with one gram of salt additionally dissolved in the solution. Record when the fifth leaf disc floats in all cups Table 1 shows that, on average, sugar water did the best at 386.3
In this experiment, we will test the relationship between the rate of photosynthesis and the water consumed by the plant; we will be testing tap water–for a control, sugar water and salt water. If we test the rate of photosynthesis in sugar, salt and tap water, then sugar water will have the fastest rate because plants use sugar as fuel.
The experiment requires nine grams of baking soda, three grams of salt, three grams of sugar, liquid dish soap, spinach leaves, and water. The instruments needed are a plastic syringe, plastic cups, a stirring rod, a one-hole punch, a 100 mL beaker, a timer, and a scale. First, use the beaker to measure out 100 mL of water and pour it into a plastic cup. …show more content…
Use the scale to measure out one gram of baking soda. Mix the solution with the stirring rod. Then add a drop or two of dish soap. Second, use a one-hole punch to cut out 90 leaf disks out of baby spinach leaves. Try to avoid the stem areas and be sure that each cut out is a full circle. Take out the plunger from the plastic syringe and drop 10 leaf discs into the cylinder. Reinsert the plunger but make sure the leaf discs aren't damaged when you press down. Next, put the tip of the syringe into the solution and pull the plunger up until you have about 15-20mL. Flip the syringe so that the tip is facing upward and press on the plunger slowly, expelling the air in the chamber. Make sure to get all of the air; lightly tapping will help. Then, cover the tip of the syringe with a finger and then pull down on the plunger, creating a vacuum in the chamber. When pulling the plunger, make sure that the leaf discs stay in the water instead of collecting on the sides of the chamber. Hold this for a count of ten and then release your finger and the plunger simultaneously. Some of the discs should start to sink. Repeat this until all of the discs sink completely but do not over do this step. After, pour the contents of the syringe into the plastic cup of solution. Be sure that all of the leaf discs make it into the cup and don't get left behind. Put the cup somewhere that light does not reach it. Repeat the earlier steps two more times and keep the cups under cover until the last one is done. Finally, uncover all three cups simultaneously and time how long it takes for five leaf discs to float in each cup. Repeat the above steps two more times. Once, with one gram of sugar additionally dissolved in the solution and then once again with one gram of salt additionally dissolved in the solution. Record when the fifth leaf disc floats in all cups Table 1 shows that, on average, sugar water did the best at 386.3