Lab Investigation: Photosynthesis

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been that all the air had not been successfully removed in the vacuum syringe. It is also possible that there could have been some sodium bicarbonate in the beaker as one student had poured the wrong solution in the labeled beaker and it was not thoroughly rinsed. In the sodium bicarbonate solution behind the lamp 1 disc began to float at 32min, this proved that room light could affect photosynthesis but is not strong enough to produce an effective outcome in this experiment. The disc in the sodium bicarbonate that was wrapped in tinfoil, to prevent light, and placed 10cm from the light source never floated. All other groups obtained the same results proving that light is necessary for photosynthesis. The leaf disc in the beaker containing NaHCO3 and set 25cm from the light source had 1 disc that began to float at 16min and a second at 22min.

The solution with the best results was the disc in the NaHCO3 and set 10cm from the lamp. The first disc began to float at 16min, 3 more at 18min, and a fifth disc at 22min. Other groups had similar data, with the most disc floating in their solutions of NaHCO3 that was in the beaker closest to the light source. Based off the data obtained, density of the solution had nothing to do with the disc floating, so it must be the oxygen produced during photosynthesis. Light is necessary for photosynthesis to occur and the room light is not intense enough to elicit an effective response. The NaHCO3 solution contains the carbon and oxygen necessary for photosynthesis and the closer the light source, the faster the reaction. This is proven that more disc began to float the closer they were to the light source. More disc floated because more oxygen gas was produced.

This proves that intensity of light does influence the rate of photosynthesis in plants. Because of this knowledge we can understand why certain species of plants a better equipped in different environments. This knowledge also helps with things like farming. By better placement of crops where they can have maximum light exposure the rate at which they grow can be increased. Understanding how environmental factors affect photosynthesis helps us to better survive.