BIO 181: Lab Quiz #10 (10 pts) – Photosynthesis

Questions 1-3, please refer to the following: To

test the effect of light color on the rate of
photosynthesis, a student submersed a piece of
Elodea in a sodium bicarbonate solution and placed
a test tube over the plant’s stem as illustrated in
Fig. 1. This apparatus allows the student to count
the number of oxygen bubbles produced by the
plant in a set amount of time as an approximation
of the rate of photosynthesis. Two of these set-ups
were made. One was placed under a filter that only
provided the plant with red light and the other was
provided with only yellow light (i.e., there is no
ambient white light reaching either plant). Assume
that all other variables in these two set-ups were
held constant (e.g., both plants were the same size/mass and provided with the same volume of sodium
bicarbonate solution, the light was the same distance away from each plant, etc.).

1. What is the independent variable in this experiment? (2 pts)

a) Light color
b) Oxygen production
c) Elodea
d) Sodium bicarbonate

Remember that the dependent variable DEPENDS on the independent variable – the dependent
variable is what you measure (oxygen production in this case) and the independent variable is
what you change (i.e., it’s the variable you are testing).

2. Based on what you know about photosynthetic pigments in green plants and what regions of the
visible spectrum they absorb best, which color of light (red or yellow) do you predict will give the highest
rate of photosynthesis? Why? (2 pts)

Red light should give the highest rate of photosynthesis compared to yellow light because one
of the colors that chlorophyll a (the main photosynthetic pigment) absorbs best is red. None of
the photosynthetic pigments absorb yellow light very well.

3. Now assume the Elodea plant subjected to red light was actually larger in size/mass than the one
subjected to yellow light. How would this affect the outcome of your experiment? (2 pts)

A larger plant means that there are more cells so there will be more chloroplasts and chlorophyll
to participate in photosynthesis. As a result, the larger plant will be producing more oxygen than
the smaller plant. Because there are now two independent variables (i.e., this is no longer a
controlled experiment), you won’t be able to tell how much of the increased oxygen production
for the plant under the red light is due to the color of the light rather than the increased size of
the plant.

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4. Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), a species of small flowering plant, was placed in a clear container
and given an ample supply of water and soil. Light was able to pass freely through the container;
however, this container was airtight (no air could flow in or out of the container). What do you predict
would happen to the rate of photosynthesis of this plant over time? (2 pts)

a) The rate of photosynthesis would stay the same because no external variables are being
manipulated.
b) The rate of photosynthesis would increase because the plant is supplied with a continuous
source of light energy.
c) The rate of photosynthesis would decrease because the remaining carbon dioxide in the
container would be used up by the photosynthesis reaction.
d) The rate of photosynthesis would decrease because the remaining oxygen in the container
would be used up by the photosynthesis reaction.

5. Which of the following are the main reactants in photosynthesis in plants? Circle all that apply. (2 pts)

a) Oxygen
b) Water
c) Glucose
d) Carbon dioxide