EXERCISE #6 - LAB SUMMARY NAME: LAB DAY TIME ‘TABLE 6.1 Light absorption characteristics of chlorophyll (plot your data (wavelength vs. absorbance) on the graph Paper provided on the instructor's desk). WAVELENGTH (nm) | COLOR OF LIGHT | ABSORBANCE AT THIS WAVELENGTH Blue/Violet BhusiGreen Green ‘Green/Yeliow Yellow Yellow/Orange Using your data and completed graph, answer the following questions: 41. Identity the colors of light and their corresponding wavelengths that showed the highest amount of absorption by the chlorophyll extract. (Hint: look at the two peaks on your graph) ‘The exact peak wavelengths may differ slightly but they should be around 430-460 nm (blue/violet) and 640 — 670 (orange/red). 2. Identify the color(s) and their corresponding wavelength(s) that are the most capable of stimulating photosynthesis. With regards to absorbance and transmittance, explain why these colors have the greatest influence, ‘These will be the same colors and wavelengths mentioned in question one. The reason these have the greatest influence is because it is the energy from light that the plant absorbs that stimulates photosynthesis. 3 Identify the color and its corresponding wavelength that is the “Ieast’ capable of stimulating photosynthesis. Explain why this color has little ton stimulating effect. ‘The lowest absorbance should be around 550 nm. Because the plant does not absorb much of this color of light (and therefore little energy form this color of light), green light does not stimulate photosynthesis. 4, What would you expect to happen to the rate of photosynthesis if you exposed a plant to an environment in which only ‘green light was present? Explain your answer. Because chlorophyll does not absorb green light, and because chlorophyll is the primary photosynthetic pigment, the plant would not absorb enough energy to stimulate photosynthesis.Table 6.2: Oxygen production at 40 cm distance Meee: ° 5 1 | 15 | 20 Elodea(m) | 02 | 021 | 023 | 025 | 027 Controt(m | 02 | 02 | 02 | o21 | o2t Elodea = Control fingaty | 9 | 0.01 | 003 | 004 | 006 Table 6.3: Oxygen production reading at 25 cm distance Minutes > 0 Z “a lao TD Elodea(m) | 02 | 022 | 024 | 028 | ost Contro(m) | 02 | o21 | o21 | 022 | 029 Elodea = Control es cim | 9 | o1 | o3 | os | 08 Using the above experimental data and your graph, answer the following questions: 5. Atthe end of the 20-minute experiment, what two gasses are present in the tube containing Elodea? €0z (provided by the NaHCO3) and O2 produced by the plant 6. Ifthe light intensity experiment had been conducted with only the tube containing the plant, the second tube (without plant) not included, would this experiment be valid? Why or why not? Explain. Hf the experiment had been done without the control (tube without the plant) then we would not know how much of the gas produced in the tube with the plant was oxygen (due to photosynthesis) as opposed to the Oz that was in the tube from the beginning from the NaHCO:. Further the control tube also accounts for changes in volume due to changes in environmental factors such as temperature. 7. Based on the data above, how does light intensity or distance from light source affect rate of oxygen production? ‘The rate of oxygen production is directly proportionate to light intensity; the greater the light intensity, the more oxygen that is produced (photosynthesis). 8. Photosynthesis involves two distinct processes: The Light Reactions are said to be light-dependent, while the Calvin ‘eycle is said to be light-independent. ‘a. What is/are the primary product(s) of the light-dependent reaction (Light reactions)? __Oz, NADPH, ATP. b. What is/are the primary product(s) of the light-independent reaction (Calvin cycle)? NADP*, ADP, GsP (2 GaP = Glucose) ‘c. In which of the above reactions is water spit to produce oxygen? __Light-dependent (Light reactions! 4d. Write the equation (balanced) for photosynthesis: 660, + 6_HO > CiHnOe(alucose) + 6_O2 Reactants vo Products e. What reactant(s) in photosynthesis isare oxidized (lose electrons)? _H,0 {What reactant(s) in photosynthesis isare reduced (gain electrons)? _€O, {g. What subatomic particle is absorbing light energy & being stored in the chemical bonds of glucose? _ ElectronsChlorophyll Absorbance Spectrum 16 1a 12 og 06 oa 02 Absorbance 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 Wavelength (nm) Photosynthesis vs Light Intensity 0.35 © em Osygen Produced (ml) . cm *” ° = oe 0 58 Time (min)