Photosynthesis experiments
Test Diagram of apparatus Method
To test if light 1.Place plant in dark for 2-3 days
is necessary for (destarching).This will ensure
ph/s that any starch stored in the
leaves will be used by the plant
for life processes. Then test one
of the leaves for starch.
2. Cover part of a leaf on the
destarched plant with aluminium
foil/. Remove this leaf after
48hrs and test for starch.
To investigate A light source is placed within
the effect of varying distances of the
light intensity on pondweed and the rate of ph/s
ph/s measured by counting the
bubbles of gas given off, or
measuring the volume of gas given intensities increase ph/s rate.
off (more accurate).
It is possible to test the gas
given off is O2 with a glowing
splint, if it relights O2 is present.
Results and conclusion
1.The leaf should test negative
showing that the starch has been
used up and no starch was made
while the plant was in the dark.
Therefore light is necessary for
ph/s.
2.The covered parts of the leaf
should show negative results for
starch as they were not exposed
to light and were unable to carry
out ph/s.
More O2 gas would be given off
when the light source is nearer
the pondweed. This shows that
light intensity does affect the
rate of ph/s, higher light
This will occur until another
factor becomes the limiting
factor.
To test if Use a variegated plant like
chlorophyll is geranium. Begin by destarching
necessary for the plant and then place plant
ph/s under bright light for 48 hrs.
Test a leaf from the plant for
starch.
To test if Co2 is Destarch plant.
necessary for 1.Place plant in a bell jar with
ph/s soda lime. The soda lime will
absorb any CO2 in the jar so
there will be none available to the
leaves. Leave for 48 hrs then
test one of the leaves for the
presence of starch.
2.Place a conical flask/clear
plastic bag containing potassium
hydroxide solution (which
absorbs CO2) around one of the
leaves and seal the opening with a
rubber bung and Vaseline.
Starch should be present only in
the green parts of the leaf,
showing that it was stored here.
This indicates that ph/s only
occurred in the green areas.
The leaf should test negative for
the presence of starch showing
that CO2 is necessary for ph/s.
A control should be set up. A
similar plant should be put in a
bell jar without any soda lime, but
water instead, to ensure that the
results obtained were due to the
presence of the soda lime and not
any other factors.
The leaf in the presence of
potassium hydroxide should test
negative for the presence of
starch. A control should be set up
so another leaf is enclosed in a
clear plastic bag/conical flask
with water.
Describe what is being investigated in the diagram above.