BIOLOGY

Investigatory Project

Submitted By: Submitted To:

Brijit George MAM
Shashibhama Tiwari
CLASS: 12th B 1

ROLL NO:
 Comparative study of
Chlorophyll content in
four different species of
plants.

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 This is to inform that “Brijit George” of class
12th B has successfully completed the research
topic on “Comparative study of chlorophyll
content in five different species of plants” under
the guidance of “Mrs. Shahibhama Tiwari”. The
reference taken in making this project is has
been declared at the end of this project.

Signature (subject teacher)

Signature (examiner)

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 I feel proud to present my investigatory project on
“Comparative study of chlorophyll content in five
different species of plants”. This project would not
have been feasible under the proper guidance of
Mam Shashibhama Tiwari who got me throughout
this project in every possible ways. An investigatory
project involves various difficult lab experiments,
which have to obtain the observations and conclude
the reports on a meaningful note. These experiments
are very critical.
Rigorous hard work has been put in this project to
ensure that it proves to be the best. I hope that this
project will prove to be a breeding ground for the
next generation of students and will guide them in
every possible way.

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 AIM
 MATERIALS REQUIRED
 THEORY
 PROCEDURE
 OBSERVATION
 CONCLUSION
 DISCUSSION
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

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 Chlorophyll are green photosynthetic pigments found in
chloroplasts. Besides chlorophyll carotenoid pigments i.e.
carotene and xanthophyll are also present in the
chloroplast. These pigments are located in thylakoid
Chlorophylls are green photosynthetic pigments found in
membrane in chloroplast. These are at least of seven types
known as chlorophyll a, c, d, e and bacteriochlorophyll
and bacterioviridin. Out of these chlorophyll a and b
occurs in the chloroplast of higher plants. Chlorophyll a
convert light energy into chemical energy and are called
primary photosynthetic pigment. The other pigments
absorb light energy of different wavelengths and
handover the energy to chlorophyll a through electron
spin resonance hence are called accessory pigments.

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To study the chlorophyll
content in four
different species of
plants.

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Fresh leaves of :-

1. Spinach

2. Radish

3. Coriander

4. Fenugreek

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Petroleum ether

Mortar and Pestle

Test tubes

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 Chromatography paper

 Cotton

 Test Tube Stand

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 The process of chromatography
separates molecules because of the
different solubilities of the molecules
in a selected solvent. In paper
chromatography, chamber with a
specified solvent. The solvent carries
the dissolved pigments as moves up
the paper. The pigments are carried at
different rates because they are not
equally soluble. A pigment that is
most soluble will travel the greatest
distance and a pigment that is less
soluble will move a shorter distance.

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 I took fresh leaves of spinach, mustard,
radish, coriander and fenugreek.
Crushed all the five leaves separately
using pestle and mortar.

 Then, I filtered the extracts and poured

it into five different bowls.

 I took four strips of chromatography

paper and marked a small point on it
1cm just above the tip of the strip with
a pencil.

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 Then, I took a dropper and using it I
loaded a drop from all the five extracts.
Repeated the same for 4 to 5 times.

 Then, I took 4 test tubes and poured

equal amount of petroleum ether in
each of the test tube.

 I took the loaded strips and carefully

placed them in the test tube with the
help of a cotton so that some part of the
tip of the strip get immersed in the
solvent (i.e. petroleum ether).

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 Rf value of each pigment spot can
be calculated by this equation:

Rf= Distance travelled by the compound

Distance travelled by the solvent

 Rf value of spinach =10.6 =0.84

12.6

 Rf value of fenugreek=10.3 =0.96

10.7

 Rf value of radish =10.2 =0.92

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 Rf value of coriander = 9.8 = 0.85

11.5

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Name Distance
travelled
Distance Rf
travelled value:
of by the by the Dc
species component
(Dc)
solvent
(Ds)
Ds

1.Spinach 10.6 12.6 0.84

2.Fenugreek 10.3 10.7 0.96
3.Radish 10.2 11 0.92
4.Coriander 9.8 11.5 0.85

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 Chlorophyll pigments of different
species of plants can be seen
separated on the chromatography
paper.
Hence, I have studied the chlorophyll
content of four different species of
plants.

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I have studied the chlorophyll content
of four different species of plants on
the basis of their Rf values.
Their Rf values are as follows:

 Rf spinach =0.84
 Rf fenugreek =0.96
 Rf radish =0.92
 Rf coriander =0.85
The Rf value of fenugreek is the
highest (0.96) and the Rf value of
spinach is the lowest (0.84). This is
because pigments vary in their
solubility in different solvents. So the
Rf value is totally dependent on the
type of solvent used in the process.

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 www.google.com
 Wikipedia.com
 Lab manual Rohit publication
 www.biologydiscussion.com

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