Photosynthesis Lab

The general summary equation for photosynthesis is

2 H2O + CO2 + light carbohydrate (CH2O) + O2 + H2O
Hypothesis:
The leaf diss !ill float to the top faster in the beaer containing CO2
than the beaer containing the distilled !ater"
Materials:
#odium bicarbonate ($aing soda)
%iquid #oap
&lastic syringe ('( cc or larger)
%eaf material
#tra! or hole punch
$eaers
Timer
%ight source
Procedure:
1) &repare )(( ml of bicarbonate solution for each trial"
The bicarbonate ser*es as an alternate dissol*ed source of carbon dio+ide for
photosynthesis" &repare a (",- solution" ('", grams of baing soda per )(( m% of !ater)
.dd ' drop of dilute liquid soap to the tip of a stirring rod and stir into the solution" The
soap !ets the hydrophobic surface of the leaf allo!ing the solution to be dra!n into the
leaf" /t0s difficult to quantify this since liquid soaps *ary in concentration" .*oid suds" /f your solution generates
suds then dilute it !ith more bicarbonate solution"
2) Cut '( uniform leaf diss for each trial using a sturdy plastic stra!" Try to a*oid the
*eins of the leaf"
)) /nfiltrate the leaf diss !ith sodium bicarbonate solution"
1emo*e the piston or plunger and place the leaf diss into the syringe barrel" 2ou may
need to use a stirring rod to push them do!n near the tip of the barrel" 1eplace the
plunger being careful not to crush the leaf diss" &ush on the plunger until only a small
*olume of air and leaf dis remain in the barrel (3 '(-)"
&ull a small *olume of sodium bicarbonate solution into the syringe" Tap the syringe to suspend the leaf diss in
the solution"
Holding a finger o*er the syringe4opening5 dra! bac on the plunger to create a *acuum" Hold this *acuum for
about '( seconds" 6hile holding the *acuum5 s!irl the leaf diss to suspend them in the solution" %et off the
*acuum" The bicarbonate solution !ill infiltrate the air spaces in the leaf causing the diss to sin" 2ou !ill
probably ha*e to repeat this procedure many times in order to get the diss to sin"
If you have difficulty getting your disks to sink after about 3 evacuations, it is usually because there is not
enough soap in the solution. Add a fe !ore drops of soap"
&our the diss and solution into a clear plastic cup" .dd bicarbonate solution to a depth of about ) centimeters"
7se the same depth for each trial" #hallo!er depths !or 8ust as !ell"
9or a control infiltrate leaf diss !ith a solution of only !ater !ith a drop of soap44no bicarbonate"
&lace under the light source and start the timer" .t the end of each minute5 record the number of floating diss"
Then s!irl the diss to dislodge any that are stuc against the sides of the cups" Continue until all of the diss are
floating"

"up #nder Light $ource %loating Leaf &isks
Methods $u!!ary "hart:
/ndependent :ariable
$olution in the beaker
%e*els of the /ndependent :ariable (if applicable)
&istilled ater, "'( ater, and soapy ater
;ependent :ariable
)u!ber of leaf disks that flo to the top
<ethod for <easuring Changes in the ;ependent
:ariable "ounting the discs that float to the top
Control =roup (if applicable)
$olution ith soap
Constants (factors that stay the same bet!een your
control group and your e+perimental groups) *e!perature of ater, a!ounts of solution,
nu!ber of leaf discs, a!ount of sodiu!
bicarbonate
>umber of Trials
+ per treat!ent
Results:
When CO2 was added to the water, the leaf fragments floated to the top faster than in the distilled water with
no CO2. Our hypothesis was that the leaf fragments in the water with CO2 would float to the top of the beaker
faster than the leaf fragments in the distilled water. Our hypothesis was proven correct. Some potential errors
include: the leaves not being properly vacuumed and not adding enough sodium bicarbonate. Ways to fi these
errors are making sure that the leaf fragments float all the way towards the plunger on the syringe and also
making sure that you cover the bottom of the beaker completely with sodium bicarbonate.