Effects of Exercise on Respiration

INTRODUCTION
Breathing rate increases with increased physical activity. Today we will use a pH indicator that is
blue. As the solution becomes more acidic, it will turn purple or even pink.

When carbon dioxide dissolves into water it becomes an acid called carbonic acid. The reaction is as
follows:

CO2 + H2O H2CO3

Carbon Dioxide + Water Carbonic Acid

If you exhale carbon dioxide into the water through bubbles, some of that carbon dioxide gas will
dissolve into the water, forming carbonic acid and decreasing the pH. Can you predict whether there
will be a difference in the time it takes for the solution to change color before and after exercise?

QUESTION
Does exercise affect the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled in respiration?

OBJECTIVE: Observe the effects of respiration on a pH indicator before and after exercise.

MATERIALS
timer test tubes
drinking straw graduated cylinder
pH indicator

PROCEDURES
1. Fill a test tube with 10 ml of c.
2. Experimental student: Using a straw, gently blow into the indicator solution until you see the
color change from blue to light/bright purple. Be careful not to inhale the solution! Have your
partner time how long it takes for the solution to change color.
30 seconds
3. Write down the time (in seconds) that it took for the color change here: _____________
4. Fill a different test tube with 10 ml of pH indicator.
5. Now have the experimental student do jumping jacks (or another approved form of exercise
that you can do in place) for 60 seconds. (Hold on to your straw.)
6. Using the same straw, blow into the solution and see how long it takes for the solution to
change color. Blow until the color is the same as the first tube. Write down the time it took for
15 seconds
the color change here: _____________________
7. Fill out the google form to record your data. (Only one form per student pair must be filled
out.)
8. Clean up: Throw away your straw and rinse out your test tubes. Leave them upside down to
dry.
 Sample photos

ANALYSIS QUESTIONS

more
1. The carbon dioxide from your exhaled breath makes the liquid _______________ acidic.
(more/less)

less
2. Less time to obtain a color change indicates ______________ carbon dioxide exhaled, which
(more/less)
lower
indicates a __________ rate of respiration.
(higher/lower)

3. Did it take longer for the pH indicator solution to change color before or after exercising?
It took longer for the pH indicator solution to change color after exercising

4. Which product of respiration caused the pH indicator solution to change color?

Carbonic acid caused the pH indicator solution to change color

5. What is the role that oxygen plays in aerobic respiration? Be specific and state its particular role in
the electron transport chain.
Aerobic respiration uses the oxygen gathered during breathing to facilitate ATP synthesis. In this role, oxygen
is an electron acceptor within the electron transport chain that which synthesizes ATP from nutrients.
6. Graph the class data. The link to the class data is in Canvas. Make a copy of the data to your
own google drive and make a bar graph using your period's data. Paste your graph below.
Only graph the average values, as we are looking for an overall comparison between respiration
before exercise and respiration after exercise. Be sure your graph includes the following:

• axis labels: label the X-axis “Experimental Trial” and label the Y-axis “Time”
• axis scales/categories
• Title