Lab 4

Name: Gisel Tuz, Kristy Acosta, Naylea Rancharran, Isidro Chan

Date: February 6th, 2019
Topic: Photosynthesis
Objective: 1) To design and conduct an experiment to explore factors that affect photosynthesis.
2) To connect and apply concepts, including the relationship between cell structure and function,
strategies for capture and stores of energy, and the diffusion of gases across membranes.
Materials: 1.) baking soda
2.) liquid soap
3.) plastic syringes
4.) leaves (spinach or ivy)
5.) hole punch
6.) beakers
7.) timer
8.) light source

Procedures:
1. Spinach leaf disks were collected by punching holes in the leaf. 20 leaf circles were
needed.
2. A solution of sodium bicarbonate was made by mixing 300 ml of water to a pinch of
baking soda (about 100 ml to 1g).
3. A diluted solution of liquid detergent was made in a small beaker by adding 3 drops of
dish soap to 70 ml of water. Suds were not made.
4. One drop of the dilute soap solution was added to the 300 ml bicarbonate solution. It was
swirled gently to avoid making suds.
5. 10 leaf disks were placed into the syringe and a small volume of the bicarbonate and soap
solution was pulled in. The plunger was replaced and most of the air was pushed out without
crushing the leaves.
6. A vacuum was created by covering the tip of the syringe with the finger. The plunger was
drawn back.
7. The vacuum was released so that the solution would enter the disks. It took a few times to
get the disks to sink. The syringe was tapped gently to dislodge the discs from the sides.
8.) After they sank, they were place back into the sodium bicarbonate solution and the disks were
exposed to light. A timer was started and the number of the disks that were floating at 1 minute
intervals were recorded.
Troubleshooting:
The solution was swirled gently to dislodge disks which became stuck at the bottom.
If no discs float within 5 minutes, a couple more drops from the soap solution were added.
The beaker was placed as close to the light as possible.
9. The set-up from above was repeated, but this time the baking soda was placed in the beaker.
This was the control. Another set of sunken disks was placed into this solution and record data
on the table.
10. Both the experimental group and the control ran until all the discs were floating.

Kristy Acosta
Observations:
THE NUMBER OF LEAVES WITHIN A ONE MINUTE INTERVAL FOR 24 MINUTES.

# of Floating Leaves Time Control

0 1 0
0 2 0
0 3 0
0 4 0
0 5 0
0 6 0
3 7 0
3 8 0
5 9 0
6 10 0
7 11 0
8 12 0
9 13 0
10 14 0
11 15 0
11 16 0
11 17 0
11 18 0
11 19 0
12 20 0
12 21 0
13 22 0
13 23 0
15 24 0

Isidro Chan
Discussion:
Photosynthesis is a very important process for many organisms as they depend on it
directly or indirectly. Plants rely on photosynthesis to produce food and obtain energy. Humans
rely on the waste product which is oxygen to breathe. Plants need to be highly equip to undergo
such an important process therefore it has adaptations to take on the process. The leaves are
broad to have maximum absorption of light. The leaves may also be thin for easier gaseous
exchange. The stomata also helps in the gaseous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in and
out of the leaf. Also a very important component is found in the palisade layer which are the
chloroplast that have chlorophyll which help in the absorption of light. All the requirements for
photosynthesis where simulated in this experiment. The leaves slowly rose to the surface due to
the production of oxygen gas as a by-product of photosynthesis. This accumulation causes them
to float, the production of oxygen can be affected by the intensity of the light source. There are
many factors which affect photosynthesis some are carbon dioxide, temperature, water,
chlorophyll, light intensity, and inhibitors. Excessive carbon dioxide inhibits photosynthesis
which lead it to slow down the process. Temperature affects because photosynthesis increases
with increase in temperature till the optimum level for the plant, the enzymes are deactivated or
destroyed and photosynthesis stops. The water is the most important because if there is a loss of
water the stomata closes which cause the carbon dioxide intake to decrease causing and indirect
effect. An increase in the oxygen levels beyond the optimum for the plant leads to inhibition of
photosynthesis. So all of these factor have a great effect on photosynthesis.

Naylea Rancharran
Further Questions:
1. How can the rate of photosynthesis be measured?
By measuring the production of oxygen.
2. Where in the cells of the leaf do you find air spaces?
Air spaces are found in the spongy mesophyll.
3. What is the function of the stoma?
The stoma allows gas exchange, which is the intake of carbon dioxide and release of oxygen.
4. What will happen if you remove the air from these spaces?
If air is removed then the leaves would sink because they would become more dense than water
and they will not be able to carry out photosynthesis.
5. How will air return to these spaces?
Air will return to these spaces through photosynthesis because as photosynthesis proceeds,
oxygen is accumulated in the air spaces of the spongy mesophyll. The stoma will open allowing
the oxygen to be released and then it will take in carbon dioxide.
6. Instead of carbon dioxide, what will be used as the reactant in this lab?
The reactant in this lab is bicarbonate.

Gisel Tuz