Biology - Year 10 - Track 3

Plant nutrition and

Photosynthesis
Introduction 3

The Process of Photosynthesis 3

The Products of Photosynthesis 3

The need for Mineral Ions in Plants 4

Important Mineral Salts in Plants and their Deficiencies 4

The Internal Structure of a Leaf 5

Adaptations in the Leaf for Photosynthesis 7

Investigating Photosynthesis 8
To test for the presence of starch in a Leaf 8
Destarching a Leaf 9
To test for the presence of oxygen during photosynthesis 9
The need for chlorophyll in photosynthesis 9
The need for light in photosynthesis 10
The need for carbon dioxide in photosynthesis 10
Investigating air spaces present in the leaf 11

Investigating the Rate of Photosynthesis 12

Method to investigate the rate of photosynthesis 12
Investigating the effect of changing light intensity on the rate of
photosynthesis 13
Investigating the effect of changing temperature on the rate of
photosynthesis 14

Effect of Light on Net Gas Exchange 15

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Biology - Year 10 - Track 3 Photosynthesis

Limiting Factors: Physical Factors affecting the Rate of Photosynthesis 16

What is a Limiting Factor? 16
Temperature 16
Light Intensity 17
Graph showing how the rate of photosynthesis increases with increasing
light intensity and temperature. 18
Carbon dioxide concentration 19

The Greenhouse 20
Problems with growing plants in greenhouses 20

Other Important notes regarding Photosynthesis 21

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Introduction
Plants carry out photosynthesis in order to build up their own food from
simpler molecules. It is necessary to keep the plant alive. This type of
nutrition is described as autotrophic.

The Process of Photosynthesis

Plants utilize water, carbon dioxide, light energy and carbon dioxide in order
to carry out photosynthesis: the build up of food. With this, we can form a
word equation for photosynthesis:

Photosynthesis takes place in the chlorophyll (pigment/chemical) of the

chloroplasts (organelle) within the leaf. The chlorophyll absorbs sunlight and
converts it into chemical energy for the plant to use. Without sunlight,
enzymes and chlorophyll, photosynthesis won't be able to take place.

The Products of Photosynthesis

The main product is glucose, but this is converted into starch, lipids, proteins
and amino acids in the leaves. It is also converted into cellulose to make or
strengthen cell walls. It is also used for energy in aerobic respiration.
It is converted into starch (not kept as glucose) as starch is a polysaccharide
(not soluble in water), unlike glucose which is a monosaccharide which is very
soluble in water. This is to prevent any problems regarding osmosis.

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The need for Mineral Ions in Plants

Mineral ions such as Magnesium and Nitrogen are needed for proper
photosynthesise. These are found in the soil and are absorbed by the root hair
cell (roots). This means that without a source of these minerals plants cannot
photosynthesise and grow properly.

Important Mineral Salts in Plants and their Deficiencies

Mineral Function Deficiency

Nitrogen (N) For the synthesis of Plant will stunt and yellow and
found in soil proteins and other may also produce shoots not at
complex chemicals. normal ease.
Important for healthy The flowering may be delayed
seedling growth and seed formation is reduced.

Magnesium (Mg) Part of the chlorophyll Yellowing between leaf veins

found in soil molecule in all green and around leaf margins.
plants and is essential Discoloration begins on older
for photosynthesis - leaves, then affecting younger
needed to make leaves: will die if not treated
chlorophyll.
It also helps to activate
enzymes needed for
growth

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The Internal Structure of a Leaf

Layer Structure Functions

Waxy Cuticle Waterproof, transparent Helps to reduce water

layer which is found loss within the plant.
covering the upper The thicker, the less
epidermis water lost.

Upper Epidermis Semi-transparent single Help to maintain the

layer of cells which do not shape of the leaf and
contain chloroplasts prevent pathogens from
entering. It also lets

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light in for the layers

beneath it.

Palisade Mesophyll Consists of tightly packed Responsible for making

Layer elongated cells which food by photosynthesis
contain a large number of
chloroplasts for
photosynthesis, as they are
the closest to the top

Spongy Mesophyll Consists of layers of Responsible for helping

Layer loosely packed cells (few
chloroplasts) which have
many air spaces in
between to make space for
gas diffusion
in photosynthesis and
the abundant air spaces
allow gasses to diffuse
through them

Lower Epidermis Properties similar as upper The stomata (open

epidermis, but have special
openings called stomata
(stoma) which are guarded
by guard cells (have
thickened cell wall)
during day, closed
during night) control
the amount of gasses
that diffuse through it,
and also the amount of
water leaving the plant.
Plants living in hotter
environments have
smaller stomachs in
order to lose less water.
The stomata affects the
amount of
photosynthesis

Stomata Located on lower Where gaseous

epidermis: open during day exchange takes place,

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and closed during night also were water is lost

Xylem Located in a vascular Transports water in the

bundle. Has thick and rigid leaf for mesophyll cells
walls to keep upright to to use in photosynthesis
transport water and for transpiration
throughout plant from stomata

Phloem Located in a vascular Transports sugars such

bundle as sucrose and amino
acids around the plant

Adaptations in the Leaf for Photosynthesis

Feature Adaptation

Large surface area (leaf) Increases surface area for diffusion of

gasses and absorption of light for
photosynthesis

Thin lamina (thin leaf) Allows gasses to diffuse quickly

Many chloroplasts The more chloroplasts, the more chlorophyll

which increases the amount of light
absorption for photosynthesis

Network of veins Allows the transport of water to the cells of

the leafs and carbohydrates from the leaf for
photosynthesis

Stomata Allows carbon dioxide (for photosynthesis) to

diffuse into the leaf and oxygen to diffuse
out. Also allows/retains water loss by
transpiration

Spongy layer/air spaces The air spaces allow gasses to diffuse

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through them to reach palisade cells. Some

plants which live on water have a lot of
airspaces in order for them to float.

Thin and transparent upper Allows light to reach the palisade cells for
epidermis photosynthesis

Investigating Photosynthesis

To test for the presence of starch in a Leaf

● A leaf is dropped in boiling water to kill and break down the cell walls.
● The leaf is left for 5-10 minutes in ethanol. This removes the chlorophyll
so colour changes from iodine can be seen more clearly.
● The leaf is dipped in boiling water to soften it.
● The leaf is spread out on a white tile and covered with iodine solution
(test for starch).
● In a green leaf, the entire leaf will turn blue-black if starch is present as
photosynthesis is occuring in all areas of the leaf.
○ This method can also be used to test whether chlorophyll is
needed for photosynthesis by using a variegated leaf. The white
areas (no chlorophyll - no starch) stay brown-black while the
green areas turn blue black (chlorophyll - starch).

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Destarching a Leaf
● A leaf is destarched in order to provide a fair and accurate experiment
(eg. when investigating if chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis), to
make sure that the starch in the leaf is the starch produced in the
experiments. If this is not done, the experiment won't be accurate.
● To destarch a leaf, it is placed in the dark for 24-48 hours, so that it will
use up all the stored starch available.

To test for the presence of oxygen during photosynthesis

● A beaker is filled with water and an amount of
sodium bicarbonate solution is added. This
produces carbon dioxide which is needed for
photosynthesis.
● A piece of pondweed is placed in the beaker
and covered with an inverted funnel and an
inverted test tube is filled with water and
placed over the stem of the funnel. A lamp is
set up so the plant receives light (needed for
photosynthesis).
● Oxygen bubbles will accumulate in the test
tube, and a glowing splint can be inserted in
the test tube to test for the presence of oxygen.

Conclusion: The splint flares up indicating that oxygen is present which has
been produced during photosynthesis.

The need for chlorophyll in photosynthesis

➔ A variegated leaf is used which has some white patches (no chlorophyll).
● The plant is destarched (placed in darkness for 24-48 hours).
● The plant is then placed in light for a day (to photosynthesise).
● A leaf is detached and is tested for starch.

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Conclusion: The green areas which contain chlorophyll turn blue-black, while
the white areas which do not contain chlorophyll stay brown. This shows that
starch was produced only in the areas where chlorophyll was present, which
concludes that chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis.

The need for light in photosynthesis

● Before starting the experiment the plant needs to be

destarched by placing it in a dark cupboard for 24 hours
which ensures that any starch already present in the
leaves will be used up and will not affect the results of the
experiment.
● Following destarching, a leaf of the plant can be partially
covered with aluminium foil and the plant placed in
sunlight for a day.
● The leaf can then be removed and tested for starch using
iodine.
● The area of the leaf that was covered with aluminium foil
will remain orange-brown as it did not receive any sunlight
and could not photosynthesise (no starch produced), while
the area exposed to sunlight will turn blue-black (starch
produced).

Conclusion: This proves that light is necessary for photosynthesis and the
production of starch as only the uncovered part of the leaf turned blue-black
when tested for starch.

The need for carbon dioxide in photosynthesis

● Destarch a plant.
● Tie a clear bag containing sodium
hydroxide or soda lime, which will
absorb carbon dioxide from the
surrounding air, around one leaf.

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● Tie a clear bag containing sodium bicarbonate solution which will

release carbon dioxide to the air.
● Place the plant in bright light for several hours and then detach leaves
and test for starch.

Conclusion: The leaf from the bag containing sodium hydroxide will remain
orange-brown (no starch) as it could not photosynthesise due to lack of
carbon dioxide while the leaf from the control bag containing water should
turn blue-black as it had all necessary requirements for photosynthesis.

Investigating air spaces present in the leaf

Circular discs were cut from a leaf and placed in

a beaker filled with sodium hydrogen carbonate
solution. This solution will be a source of carbon
dioxide Once the air spaces fill up, the leaf discs
to sink down to the bottom as they increase in
weight. The beaker was then placed under a light
source and the time taken for the leaf discs to
rise recorded .The figure below shows the
apparatus setup and the position of leaf discs at
the start and the end of the experiment.

Conclusion:
● The leaf disks sank to the bottom as their air spaces got willed with the
sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, which made them heavier than
when they were filled with air.
● As the experiment proceeds, the leaf disks rise as since carbon dioxide
and light is present photosynthesis occurs, using the carbon dioxide and
making the leaf disks lighter.
○ The leaf disks won't rise if the sodium hydrogen carbonate
solution is replaced with distilled water and no light is present, as
no carbon dioxide and light energy is present, which results in
photosynthesis not occurring

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Investigating the Rate of Photosynthesis

Method to investigate the rate of photosynthesis

● Put a piece of pondweed into a test tube filled with water and a source
of carbon dioxide (eg. NaHCO 3), in a water bath.
● Set up a light source.
● Set up a collection method for the oxygen gasses produced during
photosynthesis.

Precautions:
● Keep temperature constant.
● Keep distance between light and pondweed constant.
● Use a gas syringe for a more accurate oxygen collecting method.
Conclusion: The more bubbles produced per minute (or the more the syringe
has been filled with oxygen) means the faster the rate of photosynthesis.

The above practical can be used to investigate the factors affecting

photosynthesis in the following ways:

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Investigating the effect of changing light intensity on the rate of

photosynthesis
This experiment is done by moving a lamp different distances away from the
beaker containing the pondweed.

Precautions:

● Glass tank filled with water in front of the light source in order to
absorb heat from light to not add another variable in the experiment
(temperature).
● Same type of plant used in each experiment/reading.
● Same temperature of the water which the pondweed is placed in.

Conclusion: The closer the light is to the pondweed, the more oxygen bubbles
produced as the more photosynthesis occurs.

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Investigating the effect of changing temperature on the rate of

photosynthesis

This experiment is done by changing the temperature of the water in the

beaker.

Precautions:
● Lamp must be kept at a constant distance and intensity/brightness in
order to not add light intensity as a variable.

Conclusion: The higher the temperature, the greater the rate of photosynthesis
will be. This is because enzymes needed for photosynthesis work better at
higher temperatures as their kinetic energy increases and the amount of
collisions with the active site will also increase. However, this is a limiting
factor as putting the temperature too high (beyond 50°C) will denature the
enzymes and the reaction (photosynthesis) will stop.

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Effect of Light on Net Gas Exchange

Plants are respiring all the time, meaning plant cells are taking in oxygen and
releasing carbon dioxide as a result of aerobic respiration.
Plants also photosynthesise during daylight (light) hours, for which they need
to take in carbon dioxide and release the oxygen made in photosynthesis (in
terms of gas exchange). The greater the light intensity (brighter the day), the
faster the rate of photosynthesis.
At night (no light), plants do not photosynthesise but they continue to respire,
meaning they take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide.

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Limiting Factors: Physical Factors affecting the Rate of Photosynthesis

What is a Limiting Factor?

If a plant is given unlimited sunlight, carbon dioxide and water and is at a

warm temperature, the limit on the rate (speed) at which it can
photosynthesise is its own ability to absorb these materials and make them
react.

However, most often plants do not have unlimited supplies of their raw
materials so their rate of photosynthesis is limited by whatever factor is the
lowest at that time.

So a limiting factor can be defined as something present in the environment in

such short supply that it restricts life processes.

There are three main factors which limit the rate of photosynthesis:

● Temperature
● Light intensity
● Carbon dioxide concentration

Although water is necessary for photosynthesis, it is not considered a limiting

factor as the amount needed is relatively small compared to the amount of
water transpired from a plant so there is hardly ever a situation where there is
not enough water for photosynthesis.
Other factors like amount of chloroplasts and amount of stomata present in
the plant can also affect the rate of photosynthesis, but are not physical
factors.

Temperature
As temperature increases the rate of photosynthesis increases as the reaction
is controlled by enzymes and they work better at higher temperatures
(increased kinetic energy - more collisions with active site). However, as the
reaction is controlled by enzymes, this trend only continues up to a certain

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temperature beyond which the enzymes begin to denature and the rate of
reaction (photosynthesis) decreases rapidly.

Tip: When you see the word temperature, always make conclusions by
mentioning enzymes and how they work at higher temperatures as their
kinetic energy increases, so they collide more with the active site which will
speed up the rate of reaction.

Light Intensity
The more light a plant receives, the faster the rate of photosynthesis. This
trend will continue until some other factor required for photosynthesis
prevents the rate from increasing further because it is now in short supply.

If a plant is exposed to high light intensities, photosynthesis may stop as all

the enzymes in the chlorophyll are used up (all chloroplasts are engaged). If
this trend continues, The chlorophyll may become damaged (chlorophyll -
limiting factor) which can result in the plant becoming damaged. Eventually
the plant will wilt and end up dying.

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Graph showing how the rate of photosynthesis increases with increasing light
intensity and temperature.

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At the start of the graph, the rate of photosynthesis is limited by the light
intensity so both lines are showing the same rate.
As the light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis at 25℃ is higher
than 15℃. This is because enzymes required for photosynthesis work better at
higher temperatures (more kinetic energy - increases collisions with active
site).
Both lines level off, this shows that light intensity is no longer the limiting
factor.

Carbon dioxide concentration

Carbon dioxide is one of the raw materials required for photosynthesis. This
means the more carbon dioxide that is present, the faster the reaction can
occur. This trend will continue until some other factor required for
photosynthesis prevents the rate from increasing further because it is now in
short supply.

The factors which could be limiting the rate when the line on the graph is
horizontal include temperature not being high enough or not enough light.

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The Greenhouse
Temperature, light and carbon dioxide levels affect the rate of photosynthesis
Growing crops outside does not allow farmers to control any of these factors
to increase growth of plants.

In a greenhouse, several conditions can be manipulated to increase the rate of

photosynthesis, including:

● artificial heating (enzymes controlling photosynthesis can work faster

at slightly higher temperatures)
● artificial lighting (plants can photosynthesise for longer)
● increasing carbon dioxide content of the air inside (plants can
photosynthesise quicker)
● regular watering

Problems with growing plants in greenhouses

Advantages Disadvantages

Can be grown out of season Expensive to build

Can grow non-local species Can be damaged by weather

Protect plants and crops against If manual pollination is not required,

weather conditions insects need to be bought to carry
this out (increase cost)

Can control factors such as water, The hot temperature in the

temperature, light and carbon greenhouse (especially in summer)
dioxide concentration can cause problems for farmers: they
can only work at specific times

Biological pest control is easier Parasites and diseases may spread

(smaller and more controlled space) quickly (smaller space)

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Other Important notes regarding Photosynthesis

● In dim lights, plants respire aerobically (releasing carbon dioxide), while
photosynthesise (producing starch) in bright lights.
● Photosynthesis takes place in the palisade and spongy mesophyll layer
and also in the guard cells.
● Guard cells have thickened cell walls.
● There can only be one limiting factor at a time.
○ When writing limiting factors, always use “or” instead of “and”.
● Chlorophyll contains Magnesium and Nitrogen.
● When heating ethanol, a safer way is to heat it in an electric water bath
rather than an open bunsen burner flame.
● An alternative way for collecting oxygen bubbles is a gas syringe.
● Carbon dioxide turns lime water cloudy and oxygen relights a glowing
splint (tests).

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