Discussion
The data obtained from the spinach disks experiment was inconclusive. Sample one had 50mL of distilled water at a temperature of 22°C, it took the spinach disks an average time of 17:06 minutes before reaching the top. This occurred because the enzymes in the spinach disks were functioning around an optimum temperature for photosynthesis and the production of oxygen. Sample two had 50mL of distilled water at a temperature of 10°C, the spinach disks had no movement at all. Sample three had 50mL of distilled water at a temperature of 60°C, the spinach disks did not fully rise to the top of the water. However, after the beaker was placed under a bright light the disks rose half way. Samples one and three showed the occurrence of photosynthesis …show more content…
The light source in the classroom was insufficient, photosynthesis requires an abundance of light in order to occur quickly and efficiently. The light intensity of the classroom did allow for photosynthesis to take place. When the beakers were moved in front of a very bright light, reactions began to happen. The time would have been much shorter for photosynthesis to occur in beaker one, if the classroom lighting was more intense and bright.
Another factor to consider would be if the spinach was organically grown or grown with the use of pesticides. The spinach leaves could have been sprayed with foliar insecticides. Foliar insecticides can block the plant stomates (the microscopic pores in leaves through which gases (water vapour and CO2) are exchanged) of plants causing the photosynthetic rates to be slowed down. Therefore, if a mixture of organically grown spinach and spinach grown with pesticides was used, the results would not be truly reflective of the photosynthesis response rate to …show more content…
The controls for this experiment were having the same amount of water for each temperature (50mL), the same amount of bicarbonate infused in each spinach disk, the same sized spinach disks and the same light intensity on all of the beakers.
By altering the temperature of water, the rate of photosynthesis was changed. Photosynthesis is less efficient at extreme temperatures due to the enzymes not properly functioning at these extremes. In the experiment, only the beaker filled with room temperature water (22°C) had the spinach disks’ rising to the top in 17 minutes, the rising to the top is a result of photosynthesis occurring and oxygen being produced. In comparison to the other two beakers filled with water of extreme temperatures (10°C and 60°C) which had little to no movement of the spinach disks and thus it can concluded no photosynthesis.
The data that was collected supports the hypothesis, if spinach disks are placed in water of extreme temperatures then photosynthesis will take longer to occur, if at all as the enzymes do not function properly outside their optimal range. Photosynthesis works best at moderate temperatures, which is when enzymes will function
The data obtained from the spinach disks experiment was inconclusive. Sample one had 50mL of distilled water at a temperature of 22°C, it took the spinach disks an average time of 17:06 minutes before reaching the top. This occurred because the enzymes in the spinach disks were functioning around an optimum temperature for photosynthesis and the production of oxygen. Sample two had 50mL of distilled water at a temperature of 10°C, the spinach disks had no movement at all. Sample three had 50mL of distilled water at a temperature of 60°C, the spinach disks did not fully rise to the top of the water. However, after the beaker was placed under a bright light the disks rose half way. Samples one and three showed the occurrence of photosynthesis …show more content…
The light source in the classroom was insufficient, photosynthesis requires an abundance of light in order to occur quickly and efficiently. The light intensity of the classroom did allow for photosynthesis to take place. When the beakers were moved in front of a very bright light, reactions began to happen. The time would have been much shorter for photosynthesis to occur in beaker one, if the classroom lighting was more intense and bright.
Another factor to consider would be if the spinach was organically grown or grown with the use of pesticides. The spinach leaves could have been sprayed with foliar insecticides. Foliar insecticides can block the plant stomates (the microscopic pores in leaves through which gases (water vapour and CO2) are exchanged) of plants causing the photosynthetic rates to be slowed down. Therefore, if a mixture of organically grown spinach and spinach grown with pesticides was used, the results would not be truly reflective of the photosynthesis response rate to …show more content…
The controls for this experiment were having the same amount of water for each temperature (50mL), the same amount of bicarbonate infused in each spinach disk, the same sized spinach disks and the same light intensity on all of the beakers.
By altering the temperature of water, the rate of photosynthesis was changed. Photosynthesis is less efficient at extreme temperatures due to the enzymes not properly functioning at these extremes. In the experiment, only the beaker filled with room temperature water (22°C) had the spinach disks’ rising to the top in 17 minutes, the rising to the top is a result of photosynthesis occurring and oxygen being produced. In comparison to the other two beakers filled with water of extreme temperatures (10°C and 60°C) which had little to no movement of the spinach disks and thus it can concluded no photosynthesis.
The data that was collected supports the hypothesis, if spinach disks are placed in water of extreme temperatures then photosynthesis will take longer to occur, if at all as the enzymes do not function properly outside their optimal range. Photosynthesis works best at moderate temperatures, which is when enzymes will function