Mandatory Activity

To Investigate the Influence of Light Intensity on the Rate of Photosynthesis

Textbook Diagram: set up of the investigation.

 Place a funnel over Elodea, pondweed, in a beaker of pond water at 25°C.

 The funnel is raised off the bottom on pieces of blue-tack. This allows continuous free
diffusion of CO2 to Elodea.

 Invert a test tube full of water over the stem of the funnel to collect any gas from the Elodea.

 Place the beaker on a hot plate at 25°C.

 Maintain and monitor the temperature of the water with a thermometer.

 Excess sodium bicarbonate is placed in the water to give a constant saturated solution of
CO2.

 Place the lamp (the only light source) at a predetermined distance from the plant.

 Use a light meter to measure the light intensity at this distance. Record the light intensity.

 Allow the plant five minutes to adjust to the new conditions.

 Count the number of oxygen bubbles given off by the plant in a five-minute period.

 Repeat the count twice more and calculate the average of the three readings. This is the rate
of photosynthesis at that particular light intensity.

 The gas should be checked to prove that it is indeed oxygen — it relights a glowing splint.

 Repeat at different light intensities by moving the lamp to different distances.

 Run a control: identical set up but at a constant light intensity.

 Result: no change in the rate of photosynthesis.

 Conclusion: change in light intensity causes a change in the rate of photosynthesis.

 Graph the results placing light intensity on the x-axis.

Note: make sure you know the shape of this graph and are able to interpret it.

Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis

Practical activity on the syllabus - investigate the influence of light intensity or carbon dioxide on
the arte of photsynthesis.

Testing A Leaf For Starch - The 'KISS' experiment: Kill, Intoxicate, Soften, Stain.

 Place the leaf in boiling water - kills the leaf stopping all biochemical activity and breaks open
the cells making easier the removal of chlorophyll and the entry of iodine stain.

 Place the leaf in boiling alcohol - this removes the green chlorophyll from the leaf and so the
colour of the iodine stain, when added to the leaf, can be clearly seen.
The alcohol is not to be heated by a Bunsen flame. Heat the alcohol in a water bath of very
hot water.
  Place the leaf into boiling water - alcohol made the leaf brittle and unreceptive to the iodine
stain, the alcohol is replaced with water softening the leaf.

 Apply iodine solution to the leaf - to check for the presence or absence of starch.
I. A blue-black colour indicates starch is present (iodine enters the spiral starch
molecule changing its colour).
II. A yellow-brown, the colour of the iodine solution, indicates that starch is absent.

Evidence of Photosynthesis
The major test for photosynthesis in school laboratories is by showing starch formation. The formation
of starch can only be truly demonstrated by using a plant whose leaves do not have starch. The de-
starching of plant leaves is done to deprive the plant of light for at least 24 hours.

1. To show that Light is necessary for Photosynthesis

A. Place a plant in darkness for at least 24 hours - this de-starches the leaves.
Test a leaf with iodine to verify that de-starching was successful.
B. Cover part of a number of leaves with lightproof material.
Covered part of the leaf is the control - no light.
Using a number of leaves, repeat the experiment to verify the results.
C. Place the plant into good light for six hours at room temperature (20°C).
Good light and warm temperature: to give a high rate of photosynthesis.
Six hours: There will be plenty of excess glucose for storage as starch.
D. Test the leaves for starch using iodine.

Results:
Light: exposed parts »» blue-black with iodine »» starch present »» photosynthesis occurred.
No Light: covered parts »» yellow-brown with iodine »» starch absent »» photosynthesis did not take
place.
Therefore, light is necessary as photosynthesis only occurs when it is present.

2. To show that Carbon Dioxide is necessary for Photosynthesis

A. Place a plant in darkness for at least 24 hours - this de-starches the leaves.
Test a leaf with iodine to verify that de-starching was successful.
B. Cover some leaves with a clear plastic bag containing some water.
Clear plastic so light will be available to each leaf.
Carbon dioxide is available to these leaves - there is carbon dioxide in the air inside the bag.
C. Cover other leaves with a clear plastic bag containing some sodium hydroxide solution.
Sodium hydroxide absorbs carbon dioxide from the air.
These leaves will be the controls - no carbon dioxide.
D. Place the plant into good light for six hours at room temperature (20°C).
Good light and warm temperature: to give a high rate of photosynthesis.
Six hours: so there will be plenty of excess glucose for storage as starch.
 E. Test the leaves for starch using iodine.

Results:
Carbon dioxide present »» blue-black with iodine »» starch present»» photosynthesis occurred.
No carbon dioxide »» yellow-brown with iodine »» starch absent »» photosynthesis did not take place.
Therefore, carbon dioxide is necessary, as photosynthesis only occurs when it is present.

3. To show the effect of varying the Light Intensity on the Rate of Photosynthesis

A. Place a funnel over Elodea, pondweed, in a beaker of freshwater at 25°C.

The funnel is raised off the bottom on pieces of blue-tack to allow unhampered diffusion of
CO2 to Elodea.
B. Invert a test tube full of water over the stem of the funnel to collect any gas from the Elodea.
C. Place the beaker on a hot plate at 25°C to maintain and monitor the temperature of the
water with a thermometer.
D. Excess sodium bicarbonate is placed in the water to give a constant saturated solution of
CO2.
E. Place the lamp (the only light source) at predetermined distance from the plant.
F. Use a light meter to measure the light intensity at this distance. Record the light intensity.
G. Allow the plant five minutes to adjust to the new conditions.
H. Count the number of oxygen bubbles given off by the plant in a five-minute period.
Repeat the count twice more and calculate the average of the three readings.
This is the rate of photosynthesis at that particular light intensity.
The gas should be checked to prove that it is indeed oxygen - relights a glowing splint.
I. Repeat at different light intensities by moving the lamp to different distances.
Graph the results placing light intensity on the x-axis.

4. To show the effect of varying the Carbon Dioxide on the Rate of Photosynthesis

A. Place a funnel over Elodea, pondweed, in a beaker of freshwater at 25°C.

The funnel is raised off the bottom on pieces of blue-tack to allow unhampered diffusion of
CO2 to Elodea.
B. Invert a test tube full of water over the stem of the funnel to collect any gas from the Elodea.
C. Place the lamp (the only light source) at a fixed distance from the plant - check its constancy
with a light meter.
D. The temperature is 20°C - room temperature; thermostatically controlled room-heating
system.
E. Excess sodium bicarbonate is placed in the water to give a constant saturated solution of
CO2.
F. Allow the plant five minutes to adjust to the new conditions.
G. Count the number of oxygen bubbles given off by the plant in a five-minute period.
Repeat the count twice more and calculate the average of the three readings.
 This is the rate of photosynthesis at that particular temperature.
The gas should be checked to prove that it is indeed oxygen - relights a glowing splint.
H. Repeat at different lower carbon dioxide concentrations by using different dilutions of a
saturated solution.
I. Graph the results placing carbon dioxide concentration on the x-axis.

The syllabus also requires you to know:

Human intervention: use of artificial light and carbon dioxide enrichment to promote crop growth in
greenhouses.

Links

Experiments to show light and carbon dioxide in photosynthesis - it also shows some diagrams and
pictures of the effects of these experiments on leaves.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/webwise/spinneret/plants/psfac2.htm

This is the same idea as the last and from the same site - this time showing chlorophyll.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/webwise/spinneret/plants/psfac1.htm

You can look this up during your break from study - a different kind of approach to photosynthesis.
Answers to such questions as 'in what year was it discovered that green plants take carbon dioxide
out of the air and put oxygen in?'
http://pc65.frontier.osrhe.edu/hs/science/botphoto.htm