Ardrossan Academy

Dead Earth

Subtopic – Photosynthesis contd.

1
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
 Lesson Title: Testing a Leaf for Starch

Learning Intention:.
Name the solution used to test leaves
for starch and the colour change it
produces.
Activity:
I will be successful if I can :
Safely test a leaf for Starch and
remember the steps
2
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
 Photosynthesis recap
animation
• http://www.kscience.co.uk/animations/p
hotosynthesis.swf

3
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
 Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis

4
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
• GLUCOSE is produced
during photosynthesis and
stored as STARCH

• If a leaf has starch in it, it

means photosynthesis has
been taking place

• IODINE solution turns

blue/black if starch is present
5
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
Testing
Testingaaleaf
leaffor
forstarch
starch

6
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
 Method -
1. Boil the leaf in water for 5 min
(to soften the leaf)
2. PUT OUT THE BUNSEN BURNER
3. Use the glass rod to transfer leaf into boiling tube
4. Place boiling tube back into the hot water to boil the leaf in alcohol
(to remove the green colouring)
5. Carefully lift the leaf out with glass rod and place in hot water to wash the leaf
6. Spread the leaf out on a dimple tile.
7. Test with Iodine solution Animation

1. Boil in water 2. Boil in alcohol 3. Rinse alcohol 4. Test leaf with

- (water in beaker) - (Bunsen switched off !! ) off leaf Iodine solution
7
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
 IF the iodine turns
blue/black THEN
Starch
present the leaf has starch.

Starch
absent

In the presence of light green plants are

able to make starch (food) in their
leaves 8
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
 Aim
• To investigate the conditions
required for photosynthesis

What conditions
do you think are
needed for
photosynthesis?

9
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
Condition Before After Starch
missing testing for testing for present
starch starch (yes/no)
None
(control)
light
Chlorophyll

Carbon
dioxide

dark
10
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
 Method -
1. Boil the leaf in water for 5 min
(to soften the leaf)
2. PUT OUT THE BUNSEN BURNER
3. Use the glass rod to transfer leaf into boiling tube
4. Place boiling tube back into the hot water to boil the leaf in alcohol
(to remove the green colouring)
5. Carefully lift the leaf out with glass rod and place in hot water to wash the leaf
6. Spread the leaf out on a dimple tile.
7. Test with Iodine solution Animation

1. Boil in water 2. Boil in alcohol 3. Rinse alcohol 4. Test leaf with

- (water in beaker) - (Bunsen switched off !! ) off leaf Iodine solution
11
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
Condition Before After Starch
missing testing for testing for present
starch starch (yes/no)
None Blue/black yes
(control)
light Green
Chlorophyll Green Some some
blue/black,
some brown
white
Carbon brown no
dioxide
Green

dark brown no
12
Green
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
 Conclusion
• I found out that . . . . (refer
back to your aim)

• Carbon dioxide, light and

chlorophyll are needed for
photosynthesis to take place.
13
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
 Lesson 2 - Learning
Intentions

• Through practical work, name

the conditions required for
photosynthesis to take place

14
Ambition – Respect - Excellence
 POSTER
• Title – ‘Do plants need
chlorophyll / light / carbon
dioxide for photosynthesis’
• Method, including diagrams, of
how you carried out the
experiment
• Results – what colour did the
iodine test produce
• Conclusion, what do plants need
for photosynthesis.
• Word Equation
15
Ambition – Respect - Excellence