Notes on activities for teachers/

technicians for Chapter 6

Activity 6.1
Use a microscope to observe the cells that cover a leaf
Apparatus and materials required
◆ variety of leaves, preferably ones where the lower epidermis peels away relatively easily
◆ forceps
◆ slides
◆ coverslips
◆ pipette
◆ clear nail varnish
◆ microscope
Safety and welfare
There are no particular hazards associated with this activity.

Answer to questions
A1 In most plants, there are more stomata on the lower surface than the upper surface
A2 Answers will depend on the student’s experiences.
A3 Epidermal cells protect the lower surface of the leaf from water loss (and invasion by
fungi). Guard cells control the opening and closing of stomata.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Biology Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 6 1
 Activity 6.2
Testing a leaf for starch
Apparatus and materials required
◆ plant with soft leaves which has been photosynthesising
◆ boiling water bath, or beaker on tripod with Bunsen burner
◆ boiling tube
◆ alcohol (CARE! have a damp cloth ready to place over any tubes of alcohol that
accidentally catch fire)
◆ glass rod
◆ iodine in potassium iodide solution
◆ forceps
◆ white tile
◆ pipette
Safety and welfare
Eye protection must be worn. Ensure there are no naked flames close to tubes of alcohol.
Ensure that students know that if a tube of alcohol does catch fire, they should tell you
immediately. It can easily be extinguished by placing a damp cloth over it.
Leaves should be handled with forceps. Avoid contact of iodine solution with skin.
Notes
The time for which the leaves need to be boiled varies greatly between species, so try this
out first.

Answers to questions
A1 to break down cell membranes, so the iodine can reach the starch inside the cells
A2 The alcohol dissolved the chlorophyll.
A3 Boiling broke down the cell membranes, making it possible for chlorophyll to come
out of the cells.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Biology Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 6 2
 Activity 6.3
To see if light is needed for photosynthesis
Apparatus and materials required
See Activity 6.2.
◆ black paper
◆ paper clips
◆ scissors

Safety and welfare

See Activity 6.2.

Answers to questions
A1 This ensures that any starch present at the end of the experiment was produced
during the experiment.
A2 This checked that photosynthesis did take place when the leaf received light.
A3 Results should confirm that light is needed for photosynthesis.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Biology Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 6 3
 Activity 6.4
To see if chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis
Apparatus and materials required
◆ destarched plant with soft, variegated leaves
◆ all apparatus as for Activity 6.2
Safety and welfare
See Activity 6.2.
Notes
See Activity 6.2.

Answers to questions
A1 the white parts of the leaf
A2 Chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Biology Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 6 4
 Activity 6.5
To show that oxygen is produced in photosynthesis
Apparatus and materials required
◆ apparatus as shown in the Activity
◆ small weights or stones to lift the funnel off the base of the beaker
◆ wooden splint
◆ Bunsen or other flame
Safety and welfare
There are no particular hazards associated with this activity.
Notes
The gas that collects in the tube is not pure oxygen, but there is usually enough oxygen to
make a glowing splint flare briefly.

Answers to questions
A1 to allow oxygen to be collected over water
A2 A control could be apparatus identical to the one in the diagram, but with no plant.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Biology Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 6 5
 Activity 6.6
To see if carbon dioxide is needed for photosynthesis
Apparatus and materials required
◆ apparatus as shown in the diagram in the Activity
◆ all apparatus as for Activity 6.2
Safety and welfare
See Activity 6.2. In addition, students should avoid any skin contact with potassium
hydroxide solution. If this occurs, it should be washed off immediately with plenty of
cold water.
Notes
If split corks are used, and leaves with long petioles, it is not too difficult to hold the
leaves inside the flasks as shown. The flasks can be supported using stands, bosses
and clamps.

Answers to questions
A1 Potassium hydroxide absorbs carbon dioxide. Water does not. Having a liquid in both
flasks helps to control a variable.
A2 The flask with potassium hydroxide was the control.
A3 This prevents carbon dioxide entering the flask from the air.
A4 Results should confirm that carbon dioxide is needed for photosynthesis.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Biology Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 6 6
 Activity 6.7
Photosynthesis in a pond weed
Apparatus and materials required
◆ boiling tube and support
◆ photosynthesising pond weed – for example, Elodea or Hydrilla
◆ stopwatch or other timer
◆ black paper that can be used to surround the apparatus
Safety and welfare
Care must be taken if using electrical lamps close to water.
Notes
This is a simpler version of Activity 6.8. You may like to use it first, especially if your
students are not yet confident in planning their own investigations. See Activity 6.8 for
notes on getting the weed to produce bubbles.

Answers to questions
A1 a oxygen
b Oxygen is produced in photosynthesis.
c Put a glowing splint into it. The splint will relight if the gas is oxygen.
A2 More bubbles should be given off in the same time period in the light than in
the dark.
A3 Light provides energy for photosynthesis. Without light, photosynthesis cannot take
place, so no oxygen is given off.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Biology Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 6 7
 Activity 6.8
Investigating the effect of light intensity on photosynthesis
Apparatus and materials required
Students are to plan their own investigation, so will ask for their own apparatus.
However, they are likely to need the following.
◆ large beaker or test tubes
◆ aquatic plant – for example, Elodea or Hydrilla
◆ funnel
◆ possibly a means of collecting gas and measuring volume – for example, delivery tube
and measuring cylinder over water, or a gas syringe (but most students are likely to
opt for counting bubbles)
◆ stopwatch or other timer
◆ metre ruler
◆ lamp
◆ means of keeping out light from other sources from around the plant – for example,
black paper screens or a few boxes that can be placed around it
◆ piece of transparent plastic that could be used to prevent too much heat from the lamp
reaching the plant
Safety and welfare
Care must be taken using electrical lamps close to water.
Notes
It can sometimes be difficult to persuade the piece of pond weed to produce bubbles. It
helps if:
◆ the weed is kept in pond water in bright light for some hours before the investigation
begins
◆ the stem is cut under water with a slanting cut before placing in the test tube of water.

If all else fails, try adding a little sodium hydrogencarbonate solution to the water.

© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Biology Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 6 8
 Activity 6.9
Investigating the effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate
of photosynthesis
Apparatus and materials required
Students are to plan their own investigation, so will ask for their own apparatus. However,
they are likely to require all of the apparatus listed for Activity 6.8.
In addition, they will need:
◆ sodium hydrogencarbonate, either supplied as a solution, or as a solid that they can
mass using an electronic balance
◆ means of measuring volumes of liquids, e.g. syringes or small measuring cylinders

Safety and welfare

See Activity 6.8
Notes
See Activity 6.8

© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Biology Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 6 9
 Activity 6.10
Investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis
Apparatus and materials required
Students are to plan their own investigation, so will ask for their own apparatus. However,
they are likely to require all of the apparatus listed for Activity 6.8.
In addition, they will need:
◆ a means of varying the temperature of the liquid in which the plant is placed –
e.g. access to ice, access to water of varying temperatures, means of setting up a
water (Bunsen burner, tripod, gauze, beakers)
◆ a thermometer

Safety and welfare

See Activity 6.8
Notes
See Activity 6.8

© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Biology Notes on activities for teachers/technicians: Chapter 6 10