Lab #5

Date: 5/11/2021

Title: Transpiration

Aim: to determine the effect of air movement on the rate of transpiration

Apparatus and Materials: photometer, small plant, water, fan, syringe, retort stand,
stopwatch

Procedure:

1. Two small plants of similar size which contained the same number of leaves
were obtained.
2. The stem was cut under water and inserted into the photometer as shown in
the diagram.
3. Water was taken into the syringe and it was reattached to the potometer.
4. The syringe was pushed so that the water mixed through the capillary tube.
5. The initial volume of the water was recorded.
6. This set up was placed by a fan and left undisturbed for 24 hours (potometer
A)
7. The experiment was repeated except the set up was placed in an area with
little air movement. This was the control. (potometer 3)
8. The changes in the volume of the water was recorded and tabulated.

Diagram:

Discussion:

Precautions:

1. Plants were extracted from the same species of plant to ensure that results
were accurate.
2. Each plant used, contained the same number of leaves to ensure that results
were accurate.
 3. The stem was cut under water to prevent air bubbles entering the xylem.
This allows a smooth flow of water throughout the plant from the stem to the
leaf, hence, transpiration can effectively occur.
4. The potometer was submerged in water to check if air spaces were tight to
ensure that experiment

Sources of Error:

1. Size of leaves were not measured, therefore, more transpiration could have
occurred more in some leaves than others.

Limitations:

1. The plant situated near the window would have been exposed to more light
than the plant exposed to no light.
2. The ‘No wind’ experiment was still exposed to slight wind as there was still
some air movement in room.

Conclusion: