Name:__________________________________________Date:_______

Part 1: Investigation: How Light Affect Photosynthesis

Background

Photosynthesis fuels ecosystems and replenishes the Earth's atmosphere with oxygen. Like all enzyme-driven reactions,
the rate of photosynthesis can be measured by either the disappearance of substrate, or the accumulation of products.
The equation for photosynthesis is:

6CO2 + 6H2O ------light--------> C6H12O6 + 6O2 + H20

The rate of photosynthesis can be measured by: 1) measuring O2 production 2) measuring CO2 consumption

Leaf Structure and Function

In this investigation, you will use a system that

measures the accumulation of oxygen in the
leaf. Consider the anatomy of the leaf as shown
below.

The leaf is composed of layers of cells. The

spongy mesophyll layer is normally infused with
gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Leaves (or
disks cut from leaves) will normally float in water
because of these gases. If you draw the gases
out from the spaces, then the leaves will sink
because they become more dense than water. If
this leaf disk is placed in a solution with an
alternate source of carbon dioxide in the form of bicarbonate ions, then photosynthesis can occur in a sunken leaf disk. As
photosynthesis proceeds, oxygen accumulates in the air spaces of the spongy mesophyll and the leaf becomes buoyant
and floats. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged through openings in the leaf called stoma (or stomata).

While this is going on, the leaf is also carrying out cellular respiration. This respiration will consume the oxygen that has
accumulated and possibly cause the plant disks to sink. The measurement tool that can be used to observe these
counteracting processes is the floating (or sinking) of the plant disks. In other words, the buoyancy of the leaf disks is
actually an indirect measurement of the net rate of photosynthesis occurring in the leaf tissue.

Learning Objectives:

1) To design and conduct an experiment to explore factors that affect photosynthesis.

2) To connect and apply concepts, including the relationship between cell structure and function, strategies for capture
and stores of energy, and the diffusion of gases across membranes.

Experimental Question: What factors affect the rate of photosynthesis?

PreLab Questions - these should be completed BEFORE the scheduled lab

1. How can the rate of photosynthesis be measured?

2. Where in the cells of the leaf do you find air spaces?

What is the function of the stomata?

3. What will happen if you remove the air from these spaces?

How will air return to these spaces?

4. Instead of carbon dioxide, what will be used as the reactant in this lab?

5. Write the equation for:

Photosynthesis:

Cell Respiration:

6. List any factors that you think may affect the rate of photosynthesis. Consider environmental factors that you could
manipulate during the lab.

Every good scientist read through the procedure before the experiment. They also understand what each step will help
measure the data they are trying to collect. In the following questions, use the information provided in the procedure
reading to summarize in your own words what is happening in each step.

The experiment relies on the use of a syringe and a bicarbonate solution to check the rate of photosynthesis in spinach
leaves. In the space provided, summarize what each of the following do for the experiment:

Sodium Bicarbonate Solutions:

7.

Syringe:
8.

What will cause the leaf disk to rise? (Include the structure of the leaf that would
be affected)
9.
 What is the purpose of the soap in the experiment?
10.

How will you know photosynthesis takes place in this experiment (What are you
measuring)?
11.

Part 1: Basic Procedure for Measuring the Rate of Photosynthesis

Biology Behind the Procedure: Leaf disks float, normally. When the air spaces are infiltrated with solution the overall
density of the leaf disk increases and the disk sinks. The infiltration solution includes a small amount of Sodium
bicarbonate. Bicarbonate ion serves as the carbon source for photosynthesis. As photosynthesis proceeds oxygen is
released into the interior of the leaf, which changes the buoyancy--causing the disks to rise. Since cellular respiration is
taking place at the same time, consuming oxygen, the rate that the disks rise is an indirect measurement of the net rate of
photosynthesis.

Procedure:

Materials: baking soda, liquid soap, plastic syringes, spinach leaf, hole punch or straws, beakers, timer, light source

1. Use the single hole punch to punch out 10 leaf discs per syringe (40 total). Avoid hole-punching into any veins.
2. Remove the plungers from the syringes and place 10 leaf discs into each syringe. Replace the plunger. Without
crushing the leaf discs, push down on the plunger until there is almost no space left at the bottom of the syringe.
3. Place the tip of the syringe into the appropriate concentration of bicarbonate solution and draw in about 10 mL of
the solution.
4. Invert the syringe so the air is now located at the tip. Tap the side of the syringe lightly to loosen any air bubbles
so they float to the top. Carefully push the plunger to remove all the air. Don’t do this too quickly or you will lose
too much solution or clog the discs into the syringe tip.
5. Place your finger on the tip of the syringe and pull the plunger. Hold this for 10 seconds. Then swirl the syringe.
During this time, your bicarbonate solution should be infiltrating the leaf discs’ mesophyll and the discs will begin
to sink.
6. Repeat step 6 until all the leaf discs are sinking. Place the syringes in a dark area until you are ready to use them.
(Why do you think we are doing this?)
 Troubleshooting: Gently swirl solution to dislodge disks which may become stuck at the bottom. If no discs float within
5 minutes, add a couple more drops from your soap solution and start the timer over again. Place your beaker as close
to the light as possible!

9. Control Group: Repeat your setup from above, but this time do not place baking soda in the beaker. Place another set
of sunken disks into this solution and record data on the table.
10. Both the experimental group and the control should run until all the discs are floating.

Data Table

Time (min) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

# of floating disks
(bicarbonate, water, +
soap)

# of floating disks
(control)
( only water + soap)

Analyzing Data

Problem: Does the presence of CO2 affect the rate of photosynthesis?

Claim:
Write a statement that responds
to the question.
● Does the claim answer
the question?
● The claim should only
answer the question.
Does the claim include an
explanation or reasoning?
● Is it more than a “Yes” or
“No” answer?
● Is the claim written in
complete sentences?

Evidence:
Provide scientific data to support
your claim. Your evidence
should be appropriate (relevant)
and sufficient (enough to
convince someone that your
claim is correct). Feel free to use
bullet points instead of
sentences.
● Is each piece of evidence
relevant to the claim?
 ● Is a property labeled data
table and graph included?
● Graphing Website
● Is there qualitative data
included?
● Is there enough evidence
listed to support the
claim?
● The evidence should lack
an explanation or
reasoning. Is each piece
of evidence strictly an
observation or data from
the lab?
● Is the evidence listed
specific and not vague or
a generalization?

Reasoning
Use scientific principles and
knowledge that you have about
why your evidence (data)
supports your claim. In other
words, explain how your data
proves your point.
(Paragraph format)
Need help? Click here.

● Is there a justification of
how each piece of
evidence supports the
claim?
● The reasoning should not
simply repeat the
evidence. Is there a link
between the evidence
and claim provided?
● Is the science principle
explained why the
evidence supports the
claim?
● Is the reasoning written in
complete sentences?
 1. The same experiment was conducted with grape ivy instead of spinach leaves. The students measured the
number of floating disks after 15 minutes. They proceeded to turn off the light and observe what happened.
Results are shown below.

When they removed the light they noted some of the disks began to fall. They continued to observe and saw that all of
the disks fell to the bottom of the cup after 44 minutes. They need your help in trying to explain what phenomenon is
occurring once they turned off the light (HINT: Think about what plant cells need to transfer energy from glucose into ATP)