experiments to investigate respiration

Objective
Experimental set-up

thermometer

thermoflask
germinating
seeds boiled
To investigate if energy seeds
is released during
res pi ration Procedure
• Divide a quantity of germinating seeds into two equal parts.
• Boil one part of seed to kill them and soak the boiled seeds with
antiseptic to prevent heat release during decomposition by
bacteria.

How to determine if heat is released during respiration

Record the readings in the thermometers.
 air enters C ~ --- to pump
___..=="'

potassium limewater animal limewater

hydroxide
To investigate if carbon solution
dioxide is given off Procedure fl k A t O fl k D
during respiration When the pump is turned on, air flows from as as ·

Purpose of solutions . .
1. Potassium hydroxide (an alkali)- Absorbs carbon d1ox1de (CO2)
2. Limewater-Test for the presence of CO 2 • White precipitate is
observed in limewater if CO2 is present.

How to determine if carbon dioxide is released during respiration

• Limewater in flask B should not have white precipitate as potassium
hydroxide has removed CO 2 from air.
• If white precipitate is observed in flask D, then it shows that CO
2
must be produced from the animal during respiration.

water bath
limewater
at 37°c
oil
To investigate if carbon Procedure
dioxide is released • Sugar solution is boiled before the experiment to remove any
during anaerobic oxygen in it.
respiration • The mixture of sugar solution and yeast is then placed in water
bath ~t 37°C (optimum temperature).
• The ~ii layer prevents oxygen in air from entering the sugar
solution.

How ~o dete~m_ine if carbon dioxide is released during respiration

If white prec1~1tate is obs_erved, then it indicates that CO must be
produced during anaerobic resp·irat·ion . d tb 2t
carne ou y yeas .
* 5. Respiration (~,q~tCAMQ. c.v.t)

Very often yeast/germinating seeds are used to den1onstrate respiration.

Carbon dioxide is produced during respiration.

Gas produced may . be passed through limewater or hydrogencarbonate
indicator as both will show a colour change.

i) Limewater wi 11 turn chalky/form white ppt

ii) Hydrogencarbonate indicator w~ll turn yellow if carbon dioxide is p~ssed

· into it . ( t~bot\i c-., a.ci e\,)

e.g Germinating seeds may be placed in hydrogencarbonate indicator

Yello\v red purple

(acidic) (neutral) (alkaline)

If indicator turns yellow after sometime, indicates carbon dioxide was

produced.
Note : This 'test with hydrogencarbonate indicator may not be very successful.

Initial colour of indicator given to you will be a deep red. If carbon dioxide

II
 was produced by germinating seeds, indicator colour may turn to a lighter red
/o~ge QfilY_, may not 'tum to yellow. Therefore always compare with a
sample of indicator which does not have any germinating seeds (control).

Sometimes you may be asked to blow expired air into indicator solution. Note
colour change and be able to explain why.

What are the colour changes you would see?

TubeA--
indicator
solution Tube B-
w,Uer TubeC-
plant
Tube D--

A B State the processes taking place in each tube ·

and account for the colour changes.

Tube A--

Tube B--
lndlator
snail
solution
Tube C-
water
\tb-'';;d--plant

C
TubeD-
D

Be familiar with respiration experiments.

Experiments to show carbon dioxide is giv~n off during

respiration

E
tosuction
pump"

SMils
 ~ ~ - - tightly fitting
bung

test tube

insect----+"~
support - - - +

- - - hydrogen carbonate--~
indicator

Control

Experiment to show carbon dioxide is given off during

ferment=-tion

- - - delivery
tube
boiling
tube

thin layer - ~ ~ ; : = i test tube

of oil ·:/·:·:
boiled, cooled
. ·. ·.·
g lucose and
..·•:·::--
·-:
... .~ - - lime-water

yeast suspension
.....
·•·!:•:
..

Experiment to show ·heat}s PfOd~~ed during respiration

Corrtrol

thermos
flasks

A B

dead pea seeds ·

soaked In Milton
solution
cotton
wool
plugs

thermometers - -
 Experiment to compare the amount of CO2 in inspired
(inhaled) & expired (exhaled) air

lube placed in mouth

rubber tube
delivay tube--===-.C ,;O===C=:::J::~~C::::::J=~E &F=~i--