Photosynthesis and Leaf Structure Experiment
Introduction
The primary function of leaves is to conduct photosynthesis, a biochemical process in which plants, as well as a variety of bacteria and protists produce food from sunlight (EEB, 2016). Photosynthesis requires the acquisition light, water, and carbon dioxide and the removal of oxygen. Sodium bicarbonate is added as the bicarbonate ion acts as a carbon source for photosynthesis. Light independent reactions are catalyzed through the power of enzymes and are dependent upon temperature. Metabolism is linked to temperature; therefore metabolism will be affected by varying temperatures (Guy and Robert, 1985). Furthermore, we hypothesize that the chilled sodium bicarbonate will slow down both the rates of photosynthesis and that of respiration.
Materials and Methods
40 disks were obtained via hole-punching spinach leaves. A 0.2% bicarbonate/detergent solution was prepared and suctioned into the syringe along with the leaf disks, creating a vacuum to release air from the disks. Four groups …show more content…
When both temperatures of the solution were placed in the dark to calculate the rates of respiration as depicted in Figure 2, the chilled sodium bicarbonate solution slowed the rate of respiration in comparison to disks placed in the room temperature sodium bicarbonate solution. The calculated PSET50 for disks in room temperature sodium bicarbonate was 2min, PSET50 for cold sodium bicarbonate was 9.5min, RSET50 for disks in room temperature solution was roughly 3min, and the RSET50 for disks in cold solution was 2min. The Gross Rate of PS for disks in room temp solution was .83 min while that of disks in cold solution was
Introduction
The primary function of leaves is to conduct photosynthesis, a biochemical process in which plants, as well as a variety of bacteria and protists produce food from sunlight (EEB, 2016). Photosynthesis requires the acquisition light, water, and carbon dioxide and the removal of oxygen. Sodium bicarbonate is added as the bicarbonate ion acts as a carbon source for photosynthesis. Light independent reactions are catalyzed through the power of enzymes and are dependent upon temperature. Metabolism is linked to temperature; therefore metabolism will be affected by varying temperatures (Guy and Robert, 1985). Furthermore, we hypothesize that the chilled sodium bicarbonate will slow down both the rates of photosynthesis and that of respiration.
Materials and Methods
40 disks were obtained via hole-punching spinach leaves. A 0.2% bicarbonate/detergent solution was prepared and suctioned into the syringe along with the leaf disks, creating a vacuum to release air from the disks. Four groups …show more content…
When both temperatures of the solution were placed in the dark to calculate the rates of respiration as depicted in Figure 2, the chilled sodium bicarbonate solution slowed the rate of respiration in comparison to disks placed in the room temperature sodium bicarbonate solution. The calculated PSET50 for disks in room temperature sodium bicarbonate was 2min, PSET50 for cold sodium bicarbonate was 9.5min, RSET50 for disks in room temperature solution was roughly 3min, and the RSET50 for disks in cold solution was 2min. The Gross Rate of PS for disks in room temp solution was .83 min while that of disks in cold solution was