In this study, the effects of both varying temperatures and light intensity upon the photosynthetic rate of spinach leaves were observed. Using the ‘spinach immersion’ technique, the rate of photosynthesis under various conditions was quantified by observing the amount of spinach floating on top of a sodium bicarbonate solution. The sodium bicarbonate solution simultaneously supplied the spinach with carbon dioxide for use in photosynthesis, and caused it to sink. When the leaf underwent photosynthesis and produced oxygen gas, the leaf floated to the surface. It was hypothesized that an increase of either temperature or light intensity would lead to an increased rate of photosynthesis, to a degree. By observing trends in the data, it was concluded
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In this technique, fifteen cutouts of spinach leaves were placed in various conditions, within a sodium bicarbonate solution. However, without alteration to the spinach cutouts, they would float within the solution. But, by using a soap and sodium bicarbonate solution, soap broke down the waxy hydrophobic cuticles of the spinach, allowing the sodium bicarbonate solution to permeate the leaf’s stomata, replacing the incumbent oxygen. Thus, the leaf would no longer float (due to it being denser than the surrounding solution), and would have a source of both carbon dioxide and water for photosynthesis. And, when the leaf undergoes photosynthesis, the oxygen produced would cause it to rise to the surface, allowing an easy way to measure the rate of …show more content…
As explained in the Results section, there is very clearly a correlation between temperature and rate of photosynthesis - being how quickly the leaves underwent photosynthesis, and floated to the top of the solution. The higher temperatures rapidly achieved 100% floatation, while the lower temperatures had very low floatation rates. Consequently, the hypothesis has been supported by the experiment. This can be explained by the differences in the movement of molecules betwixt each scenario. In the hot scenarios, the molecules would be moving around rapidly, causing there to be a much greater chance of enzyme-substrate interaction, as well as allowing the enzyme to carry out its process much more quickly. In the cold scenarios, the molecules would be moving slowly, decreasing the chance of an enzyme-substrate interaction, and slowing down the enzyme’s processes. To extend this experiment, it is suggested to use 5℃ intervals, as well as going from -10℃ (below freezing) to 110℃ (above boiling). This would allow you to more accurately see the disparity between the hot and cold scenarios, and observe the effects of high temperature on photosynthetic and enzyme
In this technique, fifteen cutouts of spinach leaves were placed in various conditions, within a sodium bicarbonate solution. However, without alteration to the spinach cutouts, they would float within the solution. But, by using a soap and sodium bicarbonate solution, soap broke down the waxy hydrophobic cuticles of the spinach, allowing the sodium bicarbonate solution to permeate the leaf’s stomata, replacing the incumbent oxygen. Thus, the leaf would no longer float (due to it being denser than the surrounding solution), and would have a source of both carbon dioxide and water for photosynthesis. And, when the leaf undergoes photosynthesis, the oxygen produced would cause it to rise to the surface, allowing an easy way to measure the rate of …show more content…
As explained in the Results section, there is very clearly a correlation between temperature and rate of photosynthesis - being how quickly the leaves underwent photosynthesis, and floated to the top of the solution. The higher temperatures rapidly achieved 100% floatation, while the lower temperatures had very low floatation rates. Consequently, the hypothesis has been supported by the experiment. This can be explained by the differences in the movement of molecules betwixt each scenario. In the hot scenarios, the molecules would be moving around rapidly, causing there to be a much greater chance of enzyme-substrate interaction, as well as allowing the enzyme to carry out its process much more quickly. In the cold scenarios, the molecules would be moving slowly, decreasing the chance of an enzyme-substrate interaction, and slowing down the enzyme’s processes. To extend this experiment, it is suggested to use 5℃ intervals, as well as going from -10℃ (below freezing) to 110℃ (above boiling). This would allow you to more accurately see the disparity between the hot and cold scenarios, and observe the effects of high temperature on photosynthetic and enzyme