Exploring the Rate of Photosynthesis

Date: 7/5/15

Members
Seen Wattanawaragorn(Sean)
Natsompol Sungpaiboon (MILD)
Banlang Kuhapasagon (BUNG)
Panit Panart (TA)
Nattha Theevarajirasab (Nut)
Introduction:
Most organism is divided into two types are Autotroph and Heterotroph. Heterotrophs
organism are the organism that can not produce their own food therefore these kind of organism
have to consume others organism to transfer the energy from prey to itself by the 10 percent
law. Autotrophs organism are the organism that can produce their own food by using sunlight
through the process which is called photosynthesis process such as plants.Photosynthesis
process converts the solar energy into chemical energy. The chloroplast is the organell which
make the Autotrophic cells can do the photosynthesis. Inside the chloroplast there is a
chlorophill ,the aqueous fluid which is called stroma ,the Grannum which is a stack of thylakoids.
There are two types of photosynthesis, first is called Light Dependent reaction, second is called
Light independent reaction or Calvin cycle. Light dependent reaction takes place in thylakoid
and it needs light to start the process. Light reaction products are the NADPH and ATP that is
used in the Calvin cycle as the reactant. In the light reaction Oxygen is split from the water
which come from the capillary action from the roots. The calvin cycle change the RuBP to form
the G3P which can change to the glucose molecule, amino acids , fatty acids.The calvin cycle
need the ATP and NADPH which come from the Light dependent reaction. That is the reason
that why plant can produce their own food in terms of amino acids, glucose, fatty acids. In this
lab we are going to check the rate of the photosynthesis that relate to the different range
between the light producer.
Purpose:
-The purpose of this project is to observe the rate of photosynthesis of Elodea cutting in
many distance of light and effect of baking soda to Elodea cutting
Hypothesis:
-If the distance between Elodea and the lamp can make the different rate of
photosynthesis then the 5 cm. one has more bubble/minute than 25 cm.
Materials:
-Test Tube
-Elodea Cuttings
-Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
-Beaker with water
-Lamp

Procedure:
1.With your group, obtain a beaker, test tube, Elodea cutting, Sodium Bicarbonate, and a
Lamp.
2. Fill your beaker halfway with water.
3. Take your test tube and place the Elodea Cutting Inside
4. Fill the test tube with water.
5. Place the test tube into the beaker, with the opening facing upwards.
6. Place the beaker in front of the lamp, at different distances, starting with 10 cm.
7. Count the number of oxygen bubbles you see per minute for a total of 5 minutes
8. Repeat steps 6-7 for distances of 15 cm, 20 cm, and 25 cm
10. Put a small amount of baking soda into the test tube and count the number of
bubbles for 5 minutes.
Data Table
Without adding Baking Soda
Number of bubbles per minutes for each distances from the light sources
Time/Distance

5 cm

10 cm

15 cm

20 cm

25 cm

1 min

2 min

3 min

4 min

5 min

Mean

0.6

0.2

0.4

With baking Soda

Number of bubbles per minutes for each distances from the light sources after adding baking
soda
Time/Distance

5 cm

1 min

61

2 min

62

3 min

18

4 min

5 min

Mean

31.6

Analyzing Result:

1. Calculate the rate of photosynthesis for 1 day for each distance of light source.
Ans: Without adding baking soda
for 5 cm: happens 2,880 times
for 10 cm: happens 864 times
for 15 cm: happens 288 times
for 20 cm: happens 0 times
for 25 cm: happens 576 times
With adding baking soda
for 5 cm: happens 45,504 times
2. Explain why changing the distance of the lamp affect the rate of photosynthesis. This
may require research on your part.
Ans: At the start of experiment the lamp is positioned 5cm and the bubbles is
produced. Then the lamp is go until further 25cm. It show that if the lamp is more closer
the number of bubbles will produce more. This experiment also affect the rate of light
intensity is increased and stop until carbon dioxide and temperature become limiting.
3. Explain how Oxygen is produced and released during photosynthesis
Ans: Oxygen is spilt from the water which is come from the capillary action. Capillary
action transfer water from root to leaves. H2O is split into oxygen ions and hydrogen
ions. The hydrogen ions replace the energised electron that is passed the Electron
transport chain to continue the light reaction.

4. Explain the effect Sodium Bicarbonate has on the rate of photosynthesis.

Ans: Sodium Bicarbonate is supplies necessary for photosynthesis. During the
experiment, when the test tube is subjected to light, the leaf will produce an oxygen and
float up.
5. Research using your text and/or the internet, how a desert plant, which takes in very
little water and has high heat intensity during the day, still efficiently produces glucose
by photosynthesis.
Ans: So, The desert plant like cactus beat the heat by stored water in their root, stem
and leaves. Whenever it rain in the desert the desert plants need to absorb a lots of
water quickly because in the desert water rapidly evaporated, Water never go deep in
soil.
References:

-http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/how-plants-survive-in-the-desert/
-http://www.passmyexams.co.uk/GCSE/biology/factors-affecting-rate-of-photosynthesis.html
Conclusion:
In this lab, we try to find out the rate of photosynthesis process occurs by counting the
number of bubbles after open the light and adding water. The photosynthesis is the chemical
process through plants, bacteria, and algae. They are produce glucose and oxygen from carbon
dioxide and water, using only light as a source of energy. We know that light, carbon dioxide,
temperature, and water are affect the rate of photosynthesis. Moreover, we try to compare the
different between adding baking soda and not adding the baking soda. We started by cutting the
part of the Elodea cuttings and put it into the test tube then put it in the beaker with have half of
the water inside. Then scale the distances between the lamp and the test tube start from 5 cm,
then start the process by open the lamp. After that we record the time for 5 minutes and count
the numbers of the bubbles for each minutes. We do this until 25 cm. Then, we add the baking
soda and do the same but for the baking soda we do only 5 cm because have not enough time.
From our hypothesis, we said that the rate of photosynthesis will frequently occur in the the
nearer one. We have to do the experiment again because for the first lab the rate of
photosynthesis occur rarely in the test tube without adding baking soda, almost have no
bubbles, because we cut the Elodea cuttings so little and adding a lot of baking soda so we
cant count the bubbles. If we do this lab again we would put less baking soda so we can count
the bubbles more accurately.
Worklog:
Nut

12/05/15

Procedure, Material,
Hypothesis and Data Table

Mild (B)

12/05/15

Analyzing Result 1-4,

Conclusion

Seen

12/05/15

Introduction

Ta

12/05/15

Analyzing Result 5 , Worklog

Bung

12/05/15

Purpose