Investigating Uptake of Oxygen by Respiring Organisms

o Investigated by measuring amount of oxygen that is absorbed

from air by measuring change in volume in an enclosed tube
containing the organism.
1. Aerobic respiration occurs in organism, therefore producing carbon dioxide, that
increases the volume of gas.
2. The carbon dioxide is then removed from tube using a chemical, in order to make
results accurate.

Examples of Chemical
1. Soda lime
2. Sodium hydroxide
 Any small organisms can be used in the apparatus, including seeds or arthropods

Respirometer
- Device used to measure rate of respiration
Explanation of Respirometer
 Apparatus consists of two tubes:

(a) One tube containing living organisms.

(b) Another tube containing glass beads that act as a control.

Experiment on Respirometer

 Movement of Coloured Liquid Towards Insect = Measure of Volume of

Oxygen Taken Up by Insect for Respiration

1. The reduction of volume in tube increases pressure causing coloured liquid

to move upwards.
2. Distance Moved by Liquid Per Minute = Volume of Oxygen Inhaled
by Insect Per Minute

Investigating Effect of Temperature on Rate of

Respiration of Seeds
 To investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of respiration of

Apparatus:
(a) Respirometer
(b) Stopwatch

Experiment
1. Respirometer is set up and tubes submerged in a series of water baths set at
different temperatures, (four different temperatures).
2. Place seeds in water bath for 15 minutes before start of experiment in order
to ensure they have acclimated to temperature.
3. Effect of temperature on rate of respiration is the same as effect of
Temperature on rate of enzyme activity because respiration is an enzyme
controlled reaction.