CHAPTER 7 : RESPIRATION Plan a laboratory experiment to investigate the differences in the oxygen and carbon dioxide contents between

inhaled air and exhaled air. Problem statement Does inhaled air contain same amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide as exhaled air ? Hypothesis - Inhaled air has a higher percentage of oxygen when compared to exhaled air. - Exhaled air has a higher percentage of carbon dioxide when compared to inhaled air. Materials Potassium hydroxide solution and alkaline potassium pyrogallate solution. Apparatus J-tube, boiling tubes, rubber tubings, ruler and water basin. Technique Measure and record the length of air columns occupied by the gas in a J-tube with a ruler. A : INVESTIGATING THE CONTENTS OF OXYGEN AND CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE INHALED AIR Procedure 1. The screw of the J-tube is turned clockwise to the end. 2. The open end of the J-tube is lowered into a water basin filled with water. The screw is turned anticlockwise to draw a length of 5cm of water into the capillary tube. 3. The tube is removed from the water. The screw is turned anticlockwise to draw a length of about 10cm of air column into the J-tube. 4. The open end of the tube is placed in the water again to

draw in a little more water to seal the air column in the tube between the two lengths of water. 5. The screw is adjusted so that the air column is in the middle of the tube. 6. The J-tube is immersed in a basin of water for about two minutes. This must be done before the length of air column is measured. 7. After two minutes, the length of the air column is measured and recorded as x cm. The air column is measured while it is still immersed in the water. 8. The screw is turned clockwise again to expel some of the water. The air column is brought to within 2 to 3mm from the end of the tube. 9. The open end of the tube is dipped into the potassium hydroxide solution and the screw is turned anticlockwise to draw 2 to 3cm of potassium hydroxide solution into the capillary tube. 10. The tube is removed from the solution and the screw is used to move the air column for several times. 11. The length of the air column is measured, by repeating steps 6 and 7. The measurement is recorded as y cm. 12. The screw is turned clockwise to expel some of the potassium hydroxide solution. About 2 to 3mm of potassium hydroxide solution is left at the end od the tube. 13. The potassium hydroxide is replaced with the alkaline potassium pyrogallate solution, and steps 9 and 10 are repeated.

14. The pyrogallate solution and air column are mixed by using the screw. The capillary tube is immersed in the water for one minute, and the final length of

the air column is measured. The measurement is recorded as z cm. Tabulation of results The percentages of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the sample of air (inhaled air) can be calculated as follows : |||||||||| Length of air column (inhaled air) = x cm Length of air column upon adding the alkaline potassium hydroxide solution = y cm Length of air column upon adding the potassium pyrogallate solution = z cm Length of air column occupied by carbon dioxide = (x -y)cm Length of air column occupied by oxygen = (y -z)cm Percentage of carbon dioxide in inhaled air
( )

6. This sample of air is analysed by repeating steps 4 to 14 of the first part of experiment A, and the percentages of carbon dioxide, R and oxygen, S in the sample of exhaled air are calculated. Tabulation of results Inhaled air Initial length of air column (x cm) Length of air column upon adding potassium hydroxide solution (y cm) Length of air column upon adding alkaline potassium pyrogallate solution (z cm) Change in length of air column owning to the removal of carbon dioxide (x -y)cm Change of air to the oxygen in the length column owning removal of (y -z)cm
( )

Exhaled air

= P% Percentage of oxygen in inhaled air

( )

= Q% B : INVESTIGATING THE CONTENTS OF OXYGEN AND CARBON DIOXIDE IN EXHALED AIR Procedure 1. Air is exhaled through a rubber tubing and the end of the rubber tubing is pinched firmly. 2. The end of the rubber tubing is inserted into a boiling tube filled with water. 3. Air is gently exhaled through the rubber tubing until a sample of exhaled air is collected in the boiling tube. 4. Steps 1 and 2 of experiment A are repeated. 5. Immediately, a sample of the exhaled air about the length of 10cm is taken up again.

Percentage of carbon dioxide =

( )

Percentage of oxygen =

Conclusion - Inhaled air has a higher percentage of oxygen when compared to exhaled air. - Exhaled air has a higher percentage of carbon dioxide when compared to inhaled air. The hypothesis is accepted.