Unit Biology

Lesson Investigation of Carbon Dioxide Production by Small Organisms

Date ______________

Experiment Topic Demonstration of the Production of Carbon Dioxide by Small Living

Organisms

ASKING QUESTIONS

What am I trying to investigate? What is my question?

I am investigating which of the three species of small organisms (woodlice, maggots, or

germinating seeds) will change the color of the hydrogen carbonate indicator solution
most quickly when placed in a stoppered boiling tube with the indicator.

PREDICTING WHAT WILL HAPPEN

I think that... Woodlice will change the color of the indicator solution most quickly.

My reason is that... Woodlice are active organisms that respire, and their movement
may lead to a faster production of carbon dioxide compared to maggots and germinating
seeds.

PLANNING MY INVESTIGATION-PROCEDURE
1. Boiling Tubes

2. Hydrogen Carbonate Indicator Solution

3. Gauze Platform

4. Small Organisms (Woodlice, Maggots, Germinating Seeds)

5. Stoppers or Corks

6. Digital Stopwatch or Timer

7. Labels and Marker

8. Environmental Control

9. Safety Equipment

10. Safety Precautions

What am I going to change?

The type of small organisms (woodlice, maggots, germinating seeds) in each boiling tube

What am I going to keep the same?

The volume of hydrogen carbonate indicator solution in each boiling tube.

The temperature and environmental conditions for all organisms.
The duration for which the organisms are in contact with the indicator solution.
What am I going to measure? The time it takes for the indicator solution to change from
orange to yellow in each boiling tube.

What am I going to do?

Prepare three boiling tubes with equal volumes of hydrogen carbonate indicator
solution.

Place a gauze platform at the top of each boiling tube to support the organisms without
direct contact with the solution.

Add woodlice to the first tube, maggots to the second tube, and germinating seeds to
the third tube.

Immediately stopper each tube to prevent gas exchange with the surrounding air.

Observe and record the time it takes for the indicator solution to change from orange to
yellow in each tube.
Repeat the experiment multiple times to ensure accuracy.

I will be careful of:

Ensuring that the initial conditions, including the amount of indicator solution, are the
same for each tube.

Handling the organisms gently to avoid injury or stress.

Keeping the stoppers securely in place to prevent air from entering the tubes.MAKING
OBSERVATIONS

How can I make my observations accurate?

Ensure that the timekeeping method is precise (e.g., use a digital stopwatch).

Keep the environmental conditions (temperature, light, etc.) consistent throughout the
experiment.

Which measuring devices can I use? Digital stopwatch for measuring the time it takes for
the color change.

RECORDING RESULTS

How will I make my results neat and tidy?

Use a table to record the time it takes for the color change in each tube.

Record all observations in a clear and organized manner.

Will I use a table? Yes, I will use a table to record my results.

Will I draw a chart or a graph? Yes, I will create a bar chart to visually represent the time
taken for color change in each tube.
MAKING SENSE OF MY RESULTS
Can I see any patterns?
Analyze the data to determine which type of organism caused the fastest color change in

the indicator solution.

Are any results unusual?

Look for any unexpected results or outliers that may require further investigation.

Do the results support my prediction? Compare the results to the initial prediction to
determine if they align.

How could I make my investigation more accurate?

Consider potential sources of error and ways to minimize them.

Increase the sample size for each type of organism to enhance the reliability of the

results.

Other questions I could ask myself...

What are the implications of the findings in terms of respiration and metabolic activity in

different organisms?

Could variations in environmental conditions affect the results?