Oxygen Liberation in Photosynthesis

Group 1 - Lorenzo Daniel L. Antonio, Paolo Carlo Calalang, Timothy Carandang, Oneil Joshua Calderon, MHAB1 Submitted to: Maam Elena M. Ragragio Submitted: September 20, 2012

Introduction During the process of photosynthesis, the plant takes in CO2, but it only need the carbon part of the compound. When it splits it up, the plant takes carbon and just releases oxygen back into the atmosphere. Objectives The objective is to determine if the plant releases oxygen back into the biosphere by observing for bubbles in the submerged plant. Hypothesis Plants need to absorb CO2 only because carbon is essential to create sugars. Oxygen is only released by the plant back to the biosphere. Methodology Materials: Hydrilla plant One-liter beaker Plastic straw Thisle funnel Test tube filled with water Procedure: Take the one-liter beaker and fill it with tap water.

To enrich the presence of CO2 in the water, use a plastic straw and blow air gently into the beaker for 3-5 minutes. Take the Hydrilla and cut its ends, submerge it underwater, then insert a thistle funnel over the plant. The cut ends of the plant should face the tube of the funnel. Place a test tube partially filled with water upside down over the tube of the thistle funnel with the end of the test tube partially dipped in the water. Observe bubbles emerging out of the cut ends of the plant. Results After carefully observing the bubbles emerging out of the cut ends of the plant, we counted approximately about 5 bubbles. Discussion Plants dont really need oxygen to complete the process of photosynthesis. When it absorbs CO2 it only takes carbon into the process itself and makes no use of oxygen. As seen in the experiment, the bubbles are the oxygen parts of the compound that are being released by the plant to the atmosphere. This

proves that the plant liberates oxygen in the process of photosynthesis.

References J. Mauseth, Botany, 2009 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.