Photosynthesis can be described as a process by which water, carbon dioxide, and light energy are converted into oxygen and glucose. This experiment was broken up into two parts. The first part tested the light-dependent and light-independent reactions of spinach leaves by using the Pasco CO2 sensor and a Testing Chamber. The second part of the experiment tested the effects of different frequencies of light on photosynthesis. In this part, red, green, and violet lights were shined on spinach leaves and the CO2 levels of the spinach leaves inside the Testing Chamber were measured. It was determined that when red and violet lights were shined on the leaves, normal photosynthetic processes occurred in which the carbon dioxide levels inside of
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The simple sugars that are formed through this conversion are then converted into glucose. The equation that signifies photosynthesis is:
6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
In plants, this photosynthetic process takes place in the chloroplasts of plant cells. Inside the chloroplasts, the thylakoid membrane provides the majority of the proteins that are necessary for the light conversions of photosynthesis (1). Inside the thylakoids are certain pigments that absorb the light energy provided by the sun. There are two distinct processes of photosynthesis: the light dependent reactions, and the light independent reactions (also known as the Calvin Cycle: Light-dependent reactions, also known as Photosystem II, depend on the light energy that is absorbed by the pigments in the thylakoid membrane. This is done by chlorophyll, when excited, losing an electron that is then passed through various electron carriers. This process is used to provide ATP and reduce NADP+, which are then used to reduce CO2 (1). Photolysis then occurs by splitting H2O into O2 and H+ ions, when then allows chlorophyll to regain its lost …show more content…
The purpose of the first part of the experiment is to observe how carbon dioxide levels decrease during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis since cells are consuming CO2 and also to observe how carbon dioxide levels increase during the Calvin Cycle of photosynthesis since CO2 is consumed during the Calvin Cycle and reduced to form glucose. The purpose of the second part of the experiment is to observe how various wavelengths of light increase or decrease the production of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. The colors of lights tested were violet, red, and green. It was hypothesized that certain colors of light decrease the levels of carbon dioxide in the chamber more than other colors of light
The simple sugars that are formed through this conversion are then converted into glucose. The equation that signifies photosynthesis is:
6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
In plants, this photosynthetic process takes place in the chloroplasts of plant cells. Inside the chloroplasts, the thylakoid membrane provides the majority of the proteins that are necessary for the light conversions of photosynthesis (1). Inside the thylakoids are certain pigments that absorb the light energy provided by the sun. There are two distinct processes of photosynthesis: the light dependent reactions, and the light independent reactions (also known as the Calvin Cycle: Light-dependent reactions, also known as Photosystem II, depend on the light energy that is absorbed by the pigments in the thylakoid membrane. This is done by chlorophyll, when excited, losing an electron that is then passed through various electron carriers. This process is used to provide ATP and reduce NADP+, which are then used to reduce CO2 (1). Photolysis then occurs by splitting H2O into O2 and H+ ions, when then allows chlorophyll to regain its lost …show more content…
The purpose of the first part of the experiment is to observe how carbon dioxide levels decrease during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis since cells are consuming CO2 and also to observe how carbon dioxide levels increase during the Calvin Cycle of photosynthesis since CO2 is consumed during the Calvin Cycle and reduced to form glucose. The purpose of the second part of the experiment is to observe how various wavelengths of light increase or decrease the production of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. The colors of lights tested were violet, red, and green. It was hypothesized that certain colors of light decrease the levels of carbon dioxide in the chamber more than other colors of light