Spinach Photosynthesis Lab Report

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Introduction
Photosynthesis is the process in which light energy is converted into chemical energy in plants and other organisms (Reece, 2011). Photosynthesis is a redox reaction where carbon dioxide is reduced to sugar (glucose) and water is oxidized to oxygen (Reece, 2011). The reaction that occurs during photosynthesis is shown through the empirical equation CO2 + H2O → (CH2O)N + O2 (Stegenga, 2015). Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, specifically within the thylakoid and the stroma (Stegenga, 2015). The two stages of photosynthesis are the light reactions that occur in the former and the light-independent or “synthesis” reactions occurring in the latter (Stegenga, 2015). The absorption of solar energy or light occurs in the light reactions, while the “synthesis” reactions leads to formation of carbohydrates from carbon dioxide in a process known as the Calvin cycle (Stegenga, 2015).

This experiment of determining the rate of photosynthesis in the chloroplasts of spinach leaves utilizes the findings of the Hill
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its color led to the formulation of this experiment. The experiment utilizes chloroplasts of spinach leaves to test the different color lights’ effects on photosynthesis. Green light is said to be the least effective at driving photosynthesis on the electromagnetic spectrum due to being mostly reflected and transmitted instead of being absorbed. Conversely, red light and white light is more effective at driving photosynthesis (Reece, 2011). Thus, a hypothesis was created stating that the rate of photosynthesis will be greater with a red light bulb compared to a green or white fluorescent light bulb. The independent variables are the time and the different colored light bulbs, while the dependent variable is the percent transmittance. The variable being tested is the different colors of light: red, green, and

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