Photosynthesis refers to the process where plant utilize sunlight energy to transform carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and sugar (Lehninger, Nelson, & Cox, 2008). The photosynthesis process can be illustrated using an equation as follows:
CO2 + H20→ +C6H12O6+O2
Initial Hypothesis
- If the leaves in a chamber containing sodium bicarbonate are placed in light bank then, the leaves will float.
- If the leaves in a chamber containing distilled water are placed in light bank then the leaves would not float
Final hypothesis
- If the leaves in a chamber containing sodium bicarbonate are placed in light bank then, the leaves will float.
/>
- If the leaves in a chamber containing distilled water are placed in light bank then, the leaves will not float and those in would not float.
The chambers were placed under light, and the leaf discs observed. The leaf discs placed in a chamber containing water did not float while the leaf discs placed in a chamber with sodium bicarbonate floated. No floating of the discs was observed in the chamber that had distilled water. The discs floated due to the presence of oxygen gas produced by the leaves through photosynthesis. This is an illustration that the photosynthesis was taking place in the chamber utilizing carbon dioxide provided by the sodium bicarbonate to produce oxygen gas as a bi-product. Sinking of the leaf discs that was observed may have resulted from the vacuum created by the removal of air from the chamber.
Figure 1: A graph of the relationship between the number of discs floating in percentage and the time consumed for the discs to float in minutes.
References List
Lehninger, A. L., Nelson, D. L., & Cox, M. M. (2008). Lehninger principles of biochemistry (4th ed.). New York: WH Freeman.
