Nutrients and Algae Growth Lab 21.

1
Miles Coon
Block 7
5/5/15
I.

Purpose:

To investigate how phosphate and nitrate affect the

growth of algae.
II.

Materials

3 test tubes

distilled water

100-mL 0.4% phosphate solution

100-mL 0.4% nitrate solution

chlorella life

dropper

II.

Procedure

1. Find the volume of the test tube using a graduated cylinder

then find 75 percent of its volume
2. Label the appropriate test tubes respectively: distilled
water, phosphate solution, and nitrate solution with a wax
pencil, fill all the tubes with the pre-measured volumes
calculated in step 1
3. Mix the chlorella life lightly. Using the dropper, place 10
drops of the plant life into each tube. Invert the tubes to
mix the contents into a homogenous soultion

4. Place caps on tightly on test tubes and lay them on their side
in a sunny, lighted window.
5. Check test tubes every day few days. Growth of chlorella can
be determined by an increase in the amount of algae, as well
as an increase in the increase of the green color in the
tubes. Record all observations.
II.

Data

Distilled Water

Nitrate

Phosphate

Day
1

No growth

No growth

No growth

Day
2

No growth

Few dispersed
fibers, clear

No growth

Day
3

Small clump in bottom

corner

Some fibers
dispersed, more
than day 2

Few small fibers,

clear

Day
4

Medium clump in same

corner, seems to have
grown

Few long, loose

fibers dispersed

Fewer fibers than

nitrate, few
sparse, isolated
fibers

Day
5

Large clump formed

against side of test
tube, grown even more

Few long, loose

fibers dispersed

Few sparse,
isolated fibers,
one long fiber,
clear

III.

Conclusion

The distilled water solution contained the most growth out of the
three mixtures, and phosphate contained the least amount of growth.
The algae grew in the arrangements we observed because it had the

little to no trouble growing in distilled water tube, and so it

grew much faster and with more fibers throughout the vials. The
phosphate and nitrate solutions had a harder time growing the
chlorella. These solutions made it more difficult for the algae
fibers to grow and for the fibers to flourish. The practical
significance of this study relates to factories using these harmful
products in their goods. When their goods are disposed of, properly
or not, it affects the plant growth, which affects the food chain
form those that use the affected plants as a primary food source.