Gas Exchange in Plants

- In order for plants to photosynthesise and respire, gas exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide are needed, and this requires diffusion of gases

- Adaptations of leaves for gas exchange:

Spongy Mesophyll Lots of air spaces -> increased SA : Vol ->
gases diffuse in and out of cells faster
Guard Cell Kidney-shaped cells -> open and close
stomata by absorbing or losing water ->
when lots of water available, cells fill and
open stomata
Stomata Where gas exchange and water loss by
evaporation takes place -> open during the
day and close at night
Thin Short diffusion distance -> CO2 diffuses into
leaf and O2 diffuses out
Flattened Shape Increased SA -> absorption of light and CO2

- Respiration occurs during the night and day, as plants require energy at all times. But
photosynthesis can only occur when light is present and so cannot occur during the
night.

- There is a net balance of gases during the day, as respiration generally occurs at the
same rate as photosynthesis and so carbon dioxide comes out of the air through
photosynthesis and is replaced through respiration. The opposite occurs for oxygen.

- During the night there is no photosynthesis, so more oxygen is taken into the plants
through respiration and more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.

- (Practical) investigate the effect of light on net gas exchange from a leaf, using
hydrogen-carbonate indicator:
1) Set up a beaker with a water plant in water and hydrogen carbonate indicator
o Hydrogen carbonate indicator reflects CO2 concentration
 Red = atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide
 Purple = low concentration
 Yellow = high concentration
2) Set up a desk lamp a certain distance away
3) Leave the plant for a few minutes
4) Record colour of indicator
5) Change the distance of the lamp in increments