Biology

Photosynthesis Laboratory Report

Date: 7th September 2015

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Member:
Smita Jirayingcharoen No.3
Kandit Kerdwiriyaskul No.5
Vetaka Prajakchaikul No.12
Thanadech Santipiyakul No.14
Sarin Termteerakij No.20

Introduction

Photosynthesis is a process which occurs in the chloroplast. It is a process that captures solar
energy and transforms it into chemical energy. Photosynthesis needs Carbon dioxide, water, and
solar energy in order to process, and it makes glucose and oxygen. There are 2 processes of
photosynthesis. First is light-dependent reaction. This reaction takes place in the thylakoid
membranes. It uses water and energy from the sun to produce ATP and NADPH, which are later
needed in the next reaction, and oxygen as a byproduct. The second process is light-independent
reaction. This reaction does not need sunlight. It needs ATP and NADPH from the lightdependent reaction and Carbon dioxide to produce ADP+P and NADP+ , which later goes back
to the first reaction, and glucose. The 3 main things affect the rate of photosynthesis are light,
temperature, and Carbon dioxide.
Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to see how distance and carbon dioxide affect the rate of
photosynthesis. To test how distance between plant and the light source affects the rate of
photosynthesis, we make an observation of the plant close to the light source and far from the
light source. To test how carbon dioxide affects the rate, we add baking soda to the plant.
Hypothesis
If the plant is closer to the light source, then the rate of oxygen bubbles will be higher.
Material
Test Tube
Elodea cuttings
Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda)
Beaker with water
Lamp
Procedures
There are various set-ups that can be used to measure the rate of photosynthesis, each relies on counting the
oxygen produced during the reaction. To improve results, add a pinch of baking soda to the water in the test
tube.
1. With your group, obtain a beaker, test tube, Elodea cutting, Sodium Bicarbonate, and a Lamp.
2. Fill your beaker halfway with water.
3. Take your test tube and place the Elodea cutting inside.
4. Fill the test tube with water
5. Place the test tube into the beaker, with the opening facing upwards
6. Place the beaker in front of the lamp, at different distances, starting with 10cm.
7. Count the number of oxygen bubbles you see per minute for a total of 5 minutes.
8. Repeat steps 6-7 for distances of 15cm, 20cm, and 30 cm.
9. Average the rate of oxygen bubbles per minute.
10. Put a small amount of baking soda into the test tube and count the number of bubbles for 5 minutes

Data Table
Water
10 cm

Water
15 cm

Water
20 cm

Water
25 cm

Baking Soda
15 cm

Minute 1

15

28

13

14

70

Minute 2

22

16

14

102

Minute 3

25

16

134

Minute 4

25

16

14

151

Minute 5

22

18

14

110

Average

7.6

24.4

15.8

12.8

113.4

Graph of Result

Analyzing result:
1.Calculate the rate of photosynthesis for 1 day for each distance of light source.
10 cm: 10,944 bubbles
15 cm: 35,136 bubbles
20 cm: 22,752 bubbles
25 cm: 18,432 bubbles
15cm with baking soda: 163,296 bubbles
2.Explain why changing the distance of the lamp affect the rate of photosynthesis. This may
require research on your part.
It is because of light intensity. The rate of photosynthesis will be higher with the
increasing light intensity, which means plant can produce more oxygen when light is brighter.
3.Explain how Oxygen is produced and released during photosynthesis.
In light-dependent reaction, plant uses water and sunlight to produce NAD and NADPH.
In the beginning of light-reaction, water, which is bond between Hydrogen and Oxygen, is
oxidized. Hydrogen is used in the reaction, and Oxygen is released as a by product of the
reaction.
4.Explain the effect Sodium Bicarbonate has on the rate of photosynthesis.

Sodium Bicarbonate is used as carbon dioxide which is necessary for photosynthesis.

After the Sodium Bicarbonate is added to the plant, the rate of photosynthesis is higher. The
plant produces more oxygen bubbles.
5.Research using your text and/or the internet, how a desert plant, which takes in very little water
and has high heat intensity during the day, still efficiently produces glucose by photosynthesis.
Plants use CAM, which stands for crassulacean-acid metabolism, to conserve water. The
plants open their stomata only at night. They dont open the stomata during daytime because the
temperature is too high, and that will make the water evaporate faster. So plants only get carbon
dioxide and release oxygen during night. They dont have to open the stoma during daytime
because they have large vacuoles that necessary in storing carbon dioxide, and they can change it
into another molecule to use in photosynthesis, so that the plants dont have to open the stroma
during daytime to get carbon dioxide.
Conclusion
This experiment is to exploring the rate of photosynthesis which is affected by the distance
from light source and carbon dioxide. Our hypothesis is If the plant is closer to the light source,
then the rate of oxygen bubbles will be higher. The rate of photosynthesis is highest at 15
centimeters from the light source. The average is 24 bubbles per minute. So our hypothesis is
wrong because the closest does not have the highest rate of photosynthesis. However, the average
rates at 20 centimeters and 25 centimeters are 15 and 18 bubbles per minute respectively, and the
lowest average is the 5 centimeters at 7 bubbles per minute. We start counting the bubbles with
the closest one (5 centimeters) after we leave the plant in the water just only 1 minute, so we
figure that if we leave the plant to adapt in the water longer, the result might be different, and our
hypothesis might be right. We also see that carbon dioxide affects the rate of photosynthesis, too.
We add the baking soda to the plant, and we place it at the distance that works most efficient,
which is 15 cm. The rate of oxygen bubbles immediately rises, and the average after baking soda
is added is at 73 bubbles per minute. Therefore, distance from light source, which makes plant
absorbs different light intensity, and amount of carbon dioxide can affect the rate of
photosynthesis. We have an error that the plant does not produce any oxygen bubbles. We solve
that problem by changing the water, after that the plant produces oxygen normally. This
experiment really helps us to understand photosynthesis more than before.

References

MAder, S., & Windelspecht, M. (2013). Photosynthesis .In biology (11th ed, p. 131). New York,
New York: McGraw-Hill.
Unknow. (Year unknow) Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis. Retrieved from
http://www.passmyexams.co.uk/GCSE/biology/factors-affecting-rate-of-photosynthesis.html