Procedure:

1. Split the elodea sprig in half.

2. Put one half in yellow pH indicator(15 mL) and another in blue pH indicator(15 mL) in
separate test tubes.
3. Put one snail in yellow pH indicator(5ml) , another in blue pH indicator(5 mL), and another in
distilled water(5 mL). Make them separate test tubes.
4. Cover all test tubes with para film(completely sealed) and place them on a window sill.
5. Record information in data table after 72 hours.
6. Properly dispose of snails and Elodea in garbage. Clean test tubes and empty BTB into
sink.

Data Table:
PH Levels in Elodea Plants After 72 Hours
Plant # pH level Before pH level After
1 Blue Blue
2 Yellow Blue


PH Levels in Snail's Water After 72 Hours
Snail pH level Before pH level After
Larry Yellow Blue
Gary Blue Blue
Phil Water Water


Analysis:

Plant 1's BTB stayed blue over the whole 72 hours. Plant 2's BTB started yellow and
ended with blue. The snails died so we can not use their data. They plants use CO2 and
that is the only evidence we have. Two potential errors could have been not covering the
test tubes with para film and placing the test tubes in an incorrect area. This could've
effected the data by too much oxygen getting in the tubes and if the sunlight/no sunlight
affected the photosynthesis process. We can fix these errors by making sure that the
test tubes are covered tightly with the parafilm and by making sure the plants are in a
spot that sunlight can reach the test tubes.
Conclusion:

The results in this experiment are that the plants use and release CO2. We found this
information out by doing the experiment and seeing that in both plants the bromothymol
blue stayed/turned blue which means it was basic and had oxygen. Even though our
tests did not change the indicator to yellow, which is carbon dioxide, it doesn't mean that
they do not produce a small amount of CO2. We also did an experiment with snails to
see if they gave off CO2 or used it. The snails died so we can not use this to support our
results. My claim was that plants release/use carbon like we do. Many groups have


evidence of this. We have found that plants definitely give off carbon dioxide and use
carbon dioxide. They give off CO2 through cellular respiration. They use CO2 through
photosynthesis. Other claims such as plants not giving off any CO2 are invalid because
5 groups found that plants use CO2 and 6 groups found that plants release CO2. Their
was limited evidence that snails use/release CO2. Animals don't use CO2 because they
don't go throughout photosynthesis. Animals do release CO2 because they go through
cellular respiration. Snails & Elodea both use cellular respiration to make energy. Only
Elodea use photosynthesis to make sugar. So, what happens to humans and animals if
we no longer have plants?