Activity 7 Teacher Notes Plant Respiration and Photosynthesis PS-2820

Teacher Notes Activity 7: Plant Respiration and Photosynthesis

Time Estimates Preparation: 30 minutes Activity: 50 min

Objectives
Students will be able to
measure the carbon dioxide concentration in a chamber containing a small plant when the plant is in
darkness and then is exposed to bright light
compare the carbon dioxide gas concentrations when the plant is in darkness and when the plant is in
bright light
state a conclusion about the respiration of a plant when it is in darkness and the respiration and
photosynthesis of the plant when the plant is in light

Notes
Remind your students that they should always read the procedure all the way through
before they begin the process.
Sensor calibration is good laboratory practice. However, this activity deals only with
relative changes in measurements. It is not necessary to calibrate the CO2 Gas Sensor.
The CO2 Gas Sensor requires more power than other sensors. A fully charged GLX
provides about 30 minutes of data recording time. If possible, connect the power adapter to
the GLX while using the CO2 Gas Sensor.
Although during the class period students will be able to see the rise in CO2 concentrations
during darkness and the rise in CO2 during lighted conditions, students will benefit from
seeing data collected over a longer period of time. In particular, students will see that the
process of photosynthesis is limited by the amount of CO2 that is available.
Since the rate of increase of CO2 will slow and eventually stop under dark conditions,
students will also see that the process of cellular respiration is apparently limited by a
reactant, which may be gaseous oxygen (O2).
The mini-terrarium will remain functional for at least several days, so students will be able
to collect additional data.
Use the highest intensity light that you can. An unshaded 100-watt fluorescent bulb (the
type you can screw into a standard light socket) works well. Another alternative is to use
two high-intensity halogen or incandescent lights.
Additional Background
The dark reactions of photosynthesis do not occur at night. Students may think that the light-
independent biochemical reactions, which are also known as the dark reactions of
photosynthesis, occur at night. Scientists have sometimes referred to the reactions in which CO2
is fixed into a carbohydrate molecule as the dark reactions of photosynthesis because light is not
required for these reactions to occur. However, in nature, the light-independent (dark) reactions
occur practically simultaneously with the light-dependent (light) reactions of photosynthesis.

Biology with Xplorer GLX Teacher Notes 2005 PASCO p. 165

Activity 7 Teacher Notes Plant Respiration and Photosynthesis PS-2820

By the time night falls, all of the chemical reactants needed for the light-independent reactions
have been used up, so photosynthesis must stop until daylight returns.

Sample Data
The screen shot shows carbon dioxide gas concentration level versus time for the plant in
darkness and then in bright light.

CO2 concentration level

Biology with Xplorer GLX Teacher Notes 2005 PASCO p. 166

Activity 7 Teacher Notes Plant Respiration and Photosynthesis PS-2820

Lab Report - Activity 7: Plant Respiration and Photosynthesis

Answers and Sample Data
Pre-Lab Questions
Measure the carbon dioxide level in a container with a small plant (a mini-terrarium).
1. What will happen to the concentration of carbon dioxide gas in a container with a plant in
it when the plant is in darkness?
2. What will happen to the concentration of carbon dioxide gas in the container when the
plant is in bright light?
Student answers will vary depending on their experience. They may predict that the amount of
carbon dioxide in the mini-terrarium will increase while the plant is in darkness and decrease
when the plant is exposed to bright light.
Data
Make a sketch of one run of CO2 concentration versus time, including labels for the y- and x-
axes. Label the section of the graph that shows when the lamp is turned on.

See Sample Data in

CO2 Concentration
Teacher Notes

Time

Biology with Xplorer GLX Teacher Notes 2005 PASCO p. 167

Activity 7 Teacher Notes Plant Respiration and Photosynthesis PS-2820

Data
Write a description of the pattern of the graph:
Darkness:
For the twenty minutes when the plant was in darkness, the carbon dioxide level steadily
increased.
Bright light:
When the light is turned on and the plant is in bright light, the carbon dioxide level stops
increasing and slowly begins to decrease.
Data Table

Light Condition Change in CO2 Level (ppm/20 minutes)

Darkness 14923
Bright light 12775

Questions
1. What happens to the level of carbon dioxide gas when the plant is in darkness? Why does
this happen?
The level of carbon dioxide increases constantly from about 15000 to about 39000 ppm. The
plants mitochondria are producing carbon dioxide gas as a by-product of cellular respiration,
but the chloroplasts are not releasing oxygen because photosynthesis doesnt occur in darkness.
2. What happens to the level of carbon dioxide gas when the plant is in bright light? Why
does this happen?
The level of carbon dioxide reaches at peak shortly after the plant is exposed to bright light, and
then slowly decreases. The plant undergoes cellular respirationwhich produces carbon dioxide
gasall the time. However, while light is shining on the plant, the process of photosynthesis
removes carbon dioxide from the air in the sampling bottle. Therefore, in bright light, the
absorption of carbon dioxide begins to surpass the production of carbon dioxide.

Biology with Xplorer GLX Teacher Notes 2005 PASCO p. 168