Exercise 9

Photosynthesis: The Role of Light Energy and Carbon Dioxide

Photosynthesis is the process of food manufacture of plants. The synthetic pathway of

photosynthesis requires light energy in order to split water molecules so as to derived
hydrogen electrons from them. The electrons are necessary for carbon fixation to produce
glucose. In the absence of light and carbon dioxide no food manufacture becomes possible. This
will be elucidated in this exercise.

Objectives:
After the exercise the students must be able to discuss the:

1. Effect of light in the rate of photosynthesis

2. Effect of CO 2 in the rate photosynthesis

Materials
Videos showing virtual experiments on:
Effect of light in photosynthesis
Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=joOPGmrXz7U

Effect of CO2 in photosynthesis:

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lji6Zx3_E30

Procedure:
1. The role of Light, Carbon dioxide and Temperature in the Process of Photosynthesis.
Observe the video above.
2. The role of CO2 in photosynthesis. Observe the video above.

Questions:
1. What is indicated with the blue-black coloration of the exposed leaf tested with iodine
solution?

- It indicates that there is photosynthetic activity and the presence of starch. Starch is one
of the end products of photosynthesis and turns blue-black when it comes in contact with
iodine. The exposed portion of the leaf that turned blue-black shows photosynthetic
activity while the unexposed portion shows the reverse.

2. How about the brown coloration of the unexposed leaf? What does this
suggest?

- The brown coloration of the unexposed leaf tested with iodine solution indicates the
absence of starch.
3. Observing with the importance of CO2 in photosynthesis, which results indicate the role
of CO2 in photosynthesis?

- When tested with an iodine solution, the part of the leaf which was inside the bottle
and could not receive carbon dioxide, does not turn deep blue, indicating the absence
of starch. On the other hand, the part of the leaf, which was exposed to carbon dioxide
turns deep blue, indicating the presence of starch. Even though both halves of the leaf
receive the same amount of sunlight, water and both have chloroplast. The
experiment proves that green leaves can only perform photosynthesis in the presence
of carbon dioxide.