Bernarda Vasconez

Compensation Point: To
investigate gaseous
exchange in leaves
Hypothesis:
Tube A (covered with aluminum foil and has leaves) will change first and
the liquid will turn yellow because it is not photosynthesizing. Tube C
(without aluminum foil and leaves) will change second because it
photosynthesizing. Tubes D (without aluminum foil and no leaves) and B
(covered with aluminum foil, no leaves) will not change.

Table 1:
Tube

Aluminum

A
B
C
D

Table 2:

leaves

Colour at
the
begging
Pale pink
Pale pink
Pale pink
Pale pink

Colour at
the end
Yellow
Pale pink
Pale yellow
Yellow

(scale from 1-5, 1 being pale pink and 5 being

yellow)
Time min
3
6
9
12
15

Test tube
a
1
1
1
2
4

b
1
1
1
2
2

c
1
1
1
2
3

d
1
2
2
3
4

Strengths:

We didnt contaminate the indicator, which made our result more

reliable

Bernarda Vasconez

We had an scale for the colour of the indicator from the start of the
investigation
We discussed in the group which number we should put before
having a concluding choice

Weaknesses:

We werent constant on the time

Sources of error:
Source of error
We didnt use the same clock to
measure the time each time

How to solve it
Use a chronometer, or the same
clock each time

The light of the lamp was too close

Put it in a position where the

distance is reasonable

Put the same number of the scale

when it had change a little
The plants may have
photosynthesized

If it has changed a little put 0.5

more if you are not sure
Put more than two discs of the plant

Ways to improve the experiment:

Use a chronometer and try to always take the same time to

analyze the test tube
Use a more precise scale for the colour of the indicator
Put 5 or more disc to make sure that the result wont be so
affected if the plants photosynthesize
Have enough space to make sure that the light is not so intense or
too dim
Repeat the experiment if possible 3 or more times

Conclusion:
In conclusion our hypothesis was not completely correct. Tube A
did change the most, but tube D also changed. Which is strange because
tube D doesnt have anything, it might have been that oxygen got inside
the tube and reacted with the indicator. Throughout the experiment I
have learnt that the indicator change of colour with the presence of

Bernarda Vasconez

oxygen in the test tube. Tube A changed the most because it was not
photosynthesizing, but it was respiring and by respiring it was giving off
oxygen. That means that plants are respiring all the time, during night
and day. They only photosynthesize when there is light that means when
there is sun.