photosythesis experiments essays

photosythesis experiments essays Photosynthesis is the process by which chlorophyll - containing organisms - such as green plants, algae, and some bacteria - capture energy from light and convert it to chemical energy. For the process of photosynthesis to take place the organism must contain chloroplasts. Chlorophyll is responsible for the green color in plants and is also responsible for their ability to photosynthesize. Photosynthesis is usually carried out in the leaves of green plants, but it can also take place in other parts of the plant such as the stem. The balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis is: Sunlight + 6CO2 + H2O yields-C6H12O6 + 6O2 The purpose of this lab is to answer the question, "Is sunlight required for photosynthesis?" III.) Experimental Design Materials and Methods The first experiment was called "Separating Plant Pigments." In this first experiment the materials that you need are a piece of green plant (collard greens), a piece of chromatography paper, solvent, and a test tube. The first thing you do is take your green plant and fold it up tightly. Second, you lay the plant on the chromatography paper and smash parts of the plant onto the paper. Next you mark the outside of the tube with a wax pencil where the bottom of the pigments are. Then we take the paper back out of the tube and add the solvent to the bottom of the test tube. Next we have to wait fifteen to twenty minutes for the see what will happen to the paper. The purpose of this experiment is to see how many different pigments will separate from the green plants. The second experiment was called "Detecting Carbon Dioxide Absorption in Green Plants." In the second experiment that was conducted the materials needed are three large test tubes, some Elodea plants, bromthymol blue solution, and a piece of tin foil. The first thing you do is place pieces of the Elodea plant in two of the test tubes. Second you add the bromthymol blu...