Laboratory Report: Measuring Respiration in Yeast

Introduction

Yeast is a single-celled microorganism that is commonly used in baking and

brewing. It is also a valuable organism for studying cellular respiration, the
process by which cells convert sugar into energy. In this experiment, we will
measure the rate of respiration in yeast by measuring the volume of carbon
dioxide gas produced over time.

Materials

 4 glasses
 4 spoons of sugar
 Water
 Yeast
 Cling film

Procedure

1. Label each glass with a different temperature: cold, room temperature,

warm, and hot.
2. Add a spoonful of sugar to each glass.
3. Add enough water to each glass to fill it about halfway.
4. Stir the sugar and water in each glass until the sugar is dissolved.
5. Add a small amount of yeast to each glass.
6. Cover each glass with cling film.
7. Observe the glasses for 15 minutes.
8. Record the amount of carbon dioxide gas produced in each glass by
measuring the volume of the gas bubble that has formed under the cling
film.

Results

The following table shows the results of the experiment:

Volume of CO2 gas produced

Temperature
(mL)

Cold 2

Room
5
temperature

Warm 10

Hot 15

Discussion
The results of the experiment show that the rate of respiration in yeast
increases with temperature. This is because temperature affects the rate of
chemical reactions. At higher temperatures, the molecules in the yeast cells
move faster and collide more often, which increases the rate of respiration.

The experiment also shows that yeast can respire in a variety of conditions.
However, the rate of respiration is highest when yeast is in a warm
environment with plenty of oxygen. This is why yeast is often used in baking
and brewing, where it is placed in a warm environment with a lot of sugar.

Conclusion

The experiment demonstrated that the rate of respiration in yeast increases

with temperature. This is because temperature affects the rate of chemical
reactions. Higher temperatures cause the molecules in the yeast cells to move
faster and collide more often, which increases the rate of respiration. The
experiment also showed that yeast can respire in a variety of conditions, but
the rate of respiration is highest when yeast is in a warm environment with
plenty of oxygen.

REFERENCE:

Science – Yeast Experiment: measuring respiration in yeast – Think like a scientist

(8/10). (2014, October 29).