Date: 14th October,2022

Title: Carbon dioxide as a limiting factor in photosynthesis

Problem statement: A biologist and a physicist are walking past the aquarium in the
temperature-controlled staff lounge of the engineering department when they notice that the
aquatic plants seem shorter than average. The physicist suggests that the light intensity in the
room might not be enough for maximum growth but the biologist suspects that carbon dioxide
may be limiting the rate of photosynthesis. Plan and design an investigation to test the biologist’s
hypothesis.

Hypothesis: Few bubbles would be present when low present when the lowest of Sodium
Bicarbonate (0.8%) concentration is added, so therefore the carbon dioxide concentration would
be at its lowest potential. Most bubbles would be present when the highest concentration of
Sodium Bicarbonate (2.3%) is added, so therefore the carbon dioxide would be at its highest
potential.

Aim: To determine if carbon dioxide (CO2) is a limiting factor in aquatic plant rate of
photosynthesis.

Apparatus/Materials: 1 measuring cylinder (100cm³), 4 test tubes, 4 (1000ml) beakers, aquatic

plant, small funnel, water, (200ml) Sodium bi-carbonate, labels, stopwatch, scissors/ scal
Method

1. Rinse the Apparatus carefully with soap and water and dry them properly afterwards

2. Add approximately 500cm³ of water to a beaker and label it 0.8%

3. Add approximately 480cm³ of water to another beaker and label it 1.3%

4. Add approximately 460cm³ of water to another beaker and label it 1.8%

5. Add approximately 440cm³ of water to another beaker and label it 2.3%

6. Add 10cm³ of Sodium Bicarbonate carbonate to the 0.8% beaker. After completing trial 2
and 3 of 0.8%, add 20cm³ of Sodium Bicarbonate to the 1.3% beaker. After completing
trial 1-3 of 1.3%, add 30cm³ of Sodium carbonate to the 1.8%. After completing trial 1-3
of 1.8%, add 40cm³ of Sodium Bicarbonate to the 2.3% beaker.

7. Cut the aquatic plant diagonally across the stem. Place the cut section into the funnel
tube.

8. Invert the funnel and place it in the solution

9. Ensure that the funnel is fully submerged

10. Fill a test tube with water and cover it with your thumb. Place the test tube over the
funnel.

11. Let it sit for 30 seconds

12. After the 30 seconds, set a time for 2 minute and count the number bubbles present during
the duration

13. Repeat the experiment 2 more times. Repeat Method for concentration 1.3%,1.8%,2.3%

14. Record all results in a table

Variables

Independent

● The different solution concentration of sodium bicarbonate solution used

Dependent

● The number of bubbles of oxygen present

● whether photosynthesis occurs or not

Controlled

● Temperature
● the plant size/height,
● volume of water added.
● the type of plant used in the experiment

Expected results: It is expected that the concentration of carbon dioxide would be highest at
2.5% of Sodium Bicarbonate. This would be shown due to the high average of bubbles. 1.8%
and 1.3% would be moderate in the number of bubbles recorded. The concentration of carbon
dioxide would be lowest at 0.8% of Bicarbonate. This would be shown due to the low average of
bubbles.

Treatment of results:

A TABLE SHOWING THE RESULTS OF TRIALS 1,2 AND 3 WITH THE SODIUM
BICARBONATE CONCENTRATION AND AVERAGE NUMBER OF BUBBLES

concentration of sodium
bicarbonate(%) Oxygen bubbles counted
Average bubbles[(Ti + T2
0.8 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 +T3)/3]
1.3
1.8
2.3
2. plot graph to show the rate of photosynthesis of the aquatic plant at different concentrations of
sodium bicarbonate.

● y axis- rate of photosynthesis( number of bubbles counted)

● x axis- carbon dioxide concentration

Inference

As carbon dioxide concentrations increase, so too does the rate of photosynthesis until a certain
point where the graph levels off. In the calvin cycle carbons atoms from CO2 are fixed
(incorporated into organic molecules) and used to build three-carbon sugars. This process is
fueled by,and dependent on, ATP and NADPH from light reactions.If the highest average bubbles
recorded is at 0.8% and the lowest is at 2.3%, then the hypothesis is incorrect. If the highest
average bubbles recorded is at 1.3% or 1.8%, the hypothesis is also incorrect. If the highest
average bubbles recorded is at 2.3% and the lowest is at 0.8% , the hypothesis is correct.

Limitations

● Light intensity may affect the photosynthesis rate

● The bubbles may appear too quickly and a misconstrued may occur

Assumptions

● The number of oxygen bubbles counted would be equivalent to the photosynthesis rate
● Temperature in the room is constant throughout the experiment