Segment One Collaboration Worksheet

After doing this activity, you should be able to describe the reactants and products of
photosynthesis and the source of reactants from the environment. Submit your completed
worksheet to your instructor.

Part One: Leaf Disk Activity

Lab Safety:

 Cover your work surface with newspaper or other covering to protect from spills.
 Protect your eyes.
 If sodium bicarbonate solution gets in the eye or on the skin, flush with water.
 Solutions may be handled without gloves and may be disposed of in sink drains.

Materials:

 Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3)

 Tap water
 Liquid dish soap
 Glass cup or bowl
 Hole puncher or plastic drinking straw
 Leaf from a living plant (flexible, without a waxy covering– such as fresh spinach)
 Plastic syringe (10 mL or larger, without needle—can be purchased at a drug store)
 Timer or clock with a second hand
 Lamp (with 60-watt or higher light bulb)
 Metric ruler

Procedure:

1. Cut out (using a hole puncher or a drinking straw) five uniform leaf disks for each
trial. Avoid any major veins in the leaves.

2. In the large glass or bowl, measure out one cup of water and then add approximately
one teaspoon of baking soda to the water.
3. Remove the plunger of the syringe and place five leaf disks in the syringe barrel. Be
sure to use a clear syringe so you can collect data throughout the lab.
4. Replace the plunger, being careful not to crush the leaf disks. Push on the plunger
until only a small volume of air and leaf disks remain in the barrel.
5. Place the tip of the syringe into the baking soda solution and pull back on the plunger,
drawing a small amount of the solution into the syringe (approximately 15–20 mL).
Tap the syringe to make sure all of the leaf disks are suspended in the solution.
 6. Hold the syringe tip upward and expel the air by depressing the plunger
carefully. Stop pushing on the plunger before any solution comes out the tip.
7. Seal the tip of the syringe with one finger and hold tightly. Pull back on the plunger to
create a partial vacuum inside the syringe. Hold this for 10 seconds.
8. While still holding the vacuum in the syringe, swirl the leaf disks in the solution. The
solution will fill in the air spaces in the leaf, causing the disks to sink.
9. Holding the syringe tip upward, simultaneously release the syringe plunger and tip to
release the vacuum.
10. If the leaf disks did not all sink inside the syringe barrel, repeat steps 7–9 until all of
the leaf disks sink to the bottom of the syringe barrel.
11. Place the syringe, plunger side down, on the work surface approximately 15–20
centimeters from the light source (adjust the distance accordingly so that the solution
does not absorb excess heat). The light source should be at least 60 watts.
12. Begin timing the experiment as soon as the light source is turned on. Record the
number of disks that are floating at the top of the solution at the end of each minute in
your data table. After each time check, tap the side of the syringe to make sure disks are
not “sticking” to the container walls.
13. Continue timing and observing until all five disks in are floating.
14. Repeat steps 1–11 with a new set of five disks. Place the syringe upright on the
plunger and cover with a large bucket, bowl, or foil to prevent exposure to light.
15. Begin timing the experiment, recording the number of disks that are floating at the end
of each minute. Check the number of disks quickly to prevent extended exposure to
light.
16. Continue timing and observing for a total of 15 minutes. Record all observations in the
data table.

Data

Collect and record the data for your individual results in table 1.

Table 1: Individual Data

Time Number of Disks Floating (Light) Number of Disks Floating (Dark)
(minutes)
1
2
3
4
5
 6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Answer the reflection questions, using what you have learned from the lesson and your
experimental data. It will be helpful to refer to your class notes. Answer questions in complete
sentences.

1. What was the independent variable and the dependent variable in this experiment? How
were other variables controlled in each part of the experiment?
2. How do the numbers of floating disks correspond to the rate of photosynthesis?
3. What causes leaf disks to float? What happened to cause the leaf disks to sink?
4. What purpose did the baking soda serve in this experiment?

Part Two: Group Data Share

Work with your group to calculate average values for the data collected and complete the Table
2.
Table 2: Group Data
Time Average Number of Disks Floating Average Number of Disks Floating
(minutes) (Light) (Dark)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Collaboration Activity Part Two Reflection Questions

1. Compare the group’s data for both light and dark; was it similar or different? What
possible factors might contribute to any differences between individual data sets?

2. How well do the calculated average values reflect the individual data collected by the
team?
3. What are the benefits of analyzing and comparing data collected by more than one
scientist performing the same experiment?
4. What do you think might happen if you added three more students’ data when
calculating the average values?

Part Three: Collaboration Reflection Questions

Respond to each of the following questions in two to three complete sentences to reflect on your
experience.
1. What did you enjoy most about working with others on this lesson/task? Explain.
2. How was the collaboration experience with your team? Explain.
3. Do you feel others were happy with your participation in the lesson/task? Explain.
4. What will you do differently, if anything, in your next online collaboration opportunity?
Explain.
5. Evidence: Include the name of the classmate you used and the subject line of his or her
discussion post.