Sample of Student lab book for spreadsheet lesson plan.

2014

1

Sample Lab date Sample Student's name
Group member A
Group Member B
Group Member C
"Photosynthesis in Leaf Disks"

Introduction/Purpose: To observe the overall reaction of photosynthesis (CO
2
+ H
2
0 +light energy C
6
H
12
O
6
+ O
2
)
occurring in a real-life scenario. Essentially, we will be taking leaf "disks" which we create by hole-punching spinach
leaves, impregnating them with a sodium bicarbonate solution (which causes them to sink), exposing them to light or
keeping them in the dark, and then observing them as photosynthesis does or does not occur.

Objectives:
To be able to describe the reactants/products of photosynthesis, as well as the source of the reactants.
To be able to explain the relationships of photosynthesis to the lab.

Materials:
1.5 g sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
Liquid dish soap
Eyedropper
Plastic syringe (20-65 mL)no needle!
Plastic spoon or straw (for stirring)
Leaf material
Hole punch
1 large beaker or plastic cup
2 small beakers or plastic cups
Timer or clock with second hand

Procedure: This procedure has been adapted from the lab "Photosynthesis and Leaf Disks", found at
http://biologyjunction.com/5b-PhotoInLeafDisksLesson.pdf, on Sample lab date.

Data/Observations: Table: Number of Leaf Disks Floating after time has passed.

Time (Minutes) Number of Disks Floating (Light) Number of Disks Floating (Dark)
0 0 0
1 0 0
2 2 1
3 2 2
4 4 1
5 7 0
6 11 0
7 15 0
8 17 0
9 17 0
10 17 0
11 17 0
12 16 0
13 14 0
14 14 0
15 12 0

Sample of Student lab book for spreadsheet lesson plan. 2014

2

Questions from pdf and Think Sheet:
2. What is the variable in the experiment? What problem/question did you answer in this experiment?
The light source was the variable in the treatment. We answered the question of when photosynthesis occurs, and
what needs to be present in order for it to occur.

3. Why was detergent added to the solution? Why was sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) added to the solution?
Detergent acted as a barrier-breaking compound. It allowed the sodium bicarbonate to get inside the leaves.
Sodium bicarbonate was added to the solution to serve as a source of C0
2
, one of the reactants for photosynthesis.

4. Explain why it was important to keep one beaker covered during the experiment.
It was important to keep one beaker covered to serve so that the leaf disks inside could serve as a control.

6. Did any leaf disks float in the dark treatment? If so, what may explain this result?
Yes, a few disks in the dark treatment did float in the earlier minutes of the experiment. This may be because some
light had been "captured" and stored in the photosystems before covering and beginning the experiment.

7. What process cannot occur in the dark treatment?
The light-dependent process of photosynthesis cannot occur in the dark treatment.

Results:

Questions from pdf and think sheet continued:

8. Explain the changes that occurred within the leaf tissue that allowed the leaf disks to rise to the surface.
Light was absorbed by the light-dependent reactions or photosystems in the leaf mesoderm. As it was absorbed,
electrons were pulled from it and their released energy was taken to the Calvin cycle, or light-independent reactions.
The Calvin cycle used the energy from the electrons to take the bicarbonate ions within the mesoderm and bond them
together, along with water, to form glucose. As this occurred, the waste product was oxygen , which left the disk and
caused to to become lighter. Eventually, the disk was light enough that it floated to the surface.


0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

f
l
o
a
t
i
n
g

l
e
a
f

d
i
s
k
s

Time (minutes)
Photosynthesis in Spinach Leaf Disks
Light treatment
Dark Treatment
Sample of Student lab book for spreadsheet lesson plan. 2014

3

a.) Look at your chart, that you created from your spreadsheet, and describe the trends between the two treatment
groups.
Most of the disks from the dark (control) group never floated. The ones that did, probably had some light photons
stored. Therefore, the line for the control group is mostly straight, excluding a slight increase at minutes 2,3, and 4. Most
of the light disks did begin to float, starting with a few at minute 3, and increasing up to 17 floating at minutes 8 through
13, giving this line an exponential curve.

b.) Looking at the chart, did any leaf disks in the light group sink after they had floated? If so, why do you think this
occurred?
Yes, at minutes 13 and onward, there were a few leaf disks that did stop floating. I believe this is because the oxygen
that was on their surface had evaporated, leaving just the disks, which were crumpled from handling, and so they sank.

c.) Looking at the chart, did all of the leaf disks in the light treatment eventually float? If not, what do you think
occurred to make them not float?
I believe that maybe the mesodermal tissue, which is where the photosystems are located, was injured in these disks
due to the "pumping" action to load the bicarbonate ions. therefore, they were unable to undergo photosynthesis, and
so the disks remained sunk.