Essay on Photosynthesis
Michael Tellini, Jack Boich, Alex Davies, and Lachlan McBride
Biology
Essay on Photosynthesis
Due 11.4.13
Photosynthesis Lab Essay
Photosynthesis should be studied in this world because this plant process directly impacts humans. Photosynthesis benefits humans because we need its byproduct, oxygen, to breathe. This byproduct of oxygen is shown in the lab when the leaves rise due to the oxygen byproduct. In other words, a reaction of photosynthesis causes oxygen to rise the leaves to the surface. While the plants main benefit of photosynthesis is glucose, we will eventually consume that sugar. All of these cycles bring forth the strong correlation and relationship between photosynthesis in a plant, and our ability to function and have energy. The purpose of photosynthesis is for the plant to receive nutrition in the form of sugar. However, photosynthesis has many underlying purposes as shown by the cycles that occur in order for animals (humans) to breathe and receive nutrition. In this lab, we asked the question, "Will the leaves rise?"
Our background research into photosynthesis revealed that there arecomplex reactions and functions of cells that make it possible to perform photosynthesis. The chloroplast is where photosynthesis occurs. During photosynthesis many organelles inside the chloroplast help with making it work like the Stroma, Thylakoids, Grana, and Chlorophyll. The Stroma in the first stage, helps light-dependent reactions by capturing energy from light and using it to make the energy storage molecules ATP and NADPH. The Thylakoid is where the light-dependent reactions occur. The grana are neat stacks of granums that consist of the thylakoid membranes. The Chlorophyll is a green pigment, light energy is absorbed by two electrons in this type of molecule in the light reaction stage this gives them enough energy to leave the molecule. Also the equation for photosynthesis is 6 CO2 + 12 H2O + photons → C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O (carbon dioxide + water + light energy → glucose + oxygen + water.
Our hypothesis was that the leaves would rise because the light would activate the photosynthesis that was being recreated using the sodium bicarbonate and as a waste product of photosynthesis, O2 is produced, thus making the leave's buoyancy disproportionate to the water. We created this hypothesis because we had a prediction that the bicarbonate would allow photosynthesis, as it would stand in for the CO2. We dictictated our hypothesis on the basis of the photosynthetic equation and the assumption that O2 would make the leaves float because of its mass compared to CO2.
Our hypothesis was true because the leaves were exposed to extreme light that gave them light energy. Using the bicarbonate solution, it would cause the leaves to rise from the bottom of the cup, to the top because of the O2 created as a wate product. O2 causes the leaves to rise. The lab that took place was meant to show how photosynthesis worked. The instructions were to set the leaves inside the syringe and fill it with the sodium bicarbonate solution and also to create a control with no solution. We then put the two separate liquids in separate cups and observed the rising of the leaves. The point of the lab was to successfully have the leaves sink and rise back up through photosynthesis and the creation of o2 that would tell us photosynthesis took place. Now in order for the solution to be drawn into the leaf we needed to add the soap. That was one of the most important steps of the process because the soap wet the hydrophobic face of the disk (leaf) which will allowed the solution to sink into the leaf. We counted the amount of leaves at the end of each minute in each cup when we put the cups under the light. The control was used to show how the bicarbonate stood in for CO2 and made the leaves rise faster. It gave us something to compare with.
When using the sodium bicarbonate, the bicarbonate ions stood in for the CO2 needed to perform photosynthesis. The data showed that the leaves rose much faster when put in the solution. We came to the conclusion that this was because there were almost no CO2 molecules in the control, and there were many (bicarbonate ions) in the bicarbonate solution. CO2 (or the substitute) is needed for photosynthesis to take place as it is part of the equation. With little CO2 (or substitute), it will take much longer for the leaves to rise to the top. The leaves rose to the top in four minutes with the solution and seven without. This is a three minute difference which signifies the differential in amounts of CO2. The average rate of photosynthesis is very important to understand as it can allow one to compare two environments and their effects on photosynthesis. It also determines the amount of energy a cell can make. The same god for respiration. If one can understand the average rate of respiration then one can know how much energy a cell makes and how fast it can make it. All in all, studying the photosynthetic rate in plants is important as it allows one to see the advantages of using the sun as a power source. This statistic could help one understand how much energy they would get from solar panels by capturing the sun's energy. In this lab we learned that photosynthesis needs every part of its equation to function properly.
Biology
Essay on Photosynthesis
Due 11.4.13
Photosynthesis Lab Essay
Photosynthesis should be studied in this world because this plant process directly impacts humans. Photosynthesis benefits humans because we need its byproduct, oxygen, to breathe. This byproduct of oxygen is shown in the lab when the leaves rise due to the oxygen byproduct. In other words, a reaction of photosynthesis causes oxygen to rise the leaves to the surface. While the plants main benefit of photosynthesis is glucose, we will eventually consume that sugar. All of these cycles bring forth the strong correlation and relationship between photosynthesis in a plant, and our ability to function and have energy. The purpose of photosynthesis is for the plant to receive nutrition in the form of sugar. However, photosynthesis has many underlying purposes as shown by the cycles that occur in order for animals (humans) to breathe and receive nutrition. In this lab, we asked the question, "Will the leaves rise?"
Our background research into photosynthesis revealed that there arecomplex reactions and functions of cells that make it possible to perform photosynthesis. The chloroplast is where photosynthesis occurs. During photosynthesis many organelles inside the chloroplast help with making it work like the Stroma, Thylakoids, Grana, and Chlorophyll. The Stroma in the first stage, helps light-dependent reactions by capturing energy from light and using it to make the energy storage molecules ATP and NADPH. The Thylakoid is where the light-dependent reactions occur. The grana are neat stacks of granums that consist of the thylakoid membranes. The Chlorophyll is a green pigment, light energy is absorbed by two electrons in this type of molecule in the light reaction stage this gives them enough energy to leave the molecule. Also the equation for photosynthesis is 6 CO2 + 12 H2O + photons → C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O (carbon dioxide + water + light energy → glucose + oxygen + water.
Our hypothesis was that the leaves would rise because the light would activate the photosynthesis that was being recreated using the sodium bicarbonate and as a waste product of photosynthesis, O2 is produced, thus making the leave's buoyancy disproportionate to the water. We created this hypothesis because we had a prediction that the bicarbonate would allow photosynthesis, as it would stand in for the CO2. We dictictated our hypothesis on the basis of the photosynthetic equation and the assumption that O2 would make the leaves float because of its mass compared to CO2.
Our hypothesis was true because the leaves were exposed to extreme light that gave them light energy. Using the bicarbonate solution, it would cause the leaves to rise from the bottom of the cup, to the top because of the O2 created as a wate product. O2 causes the leaves to rise. The lab that took place was meant to show how photosynthesis worked. The instructions were to set the leaves inside the syringe and fill it with the sodium bicarbonate solution and also to create a control with no solution. We then put the two separate liquids in separate cups and observed the rising of the leaves. The point of the lab was to successfully have the leaves sink and rise back up through photosynthesis and the creation of o2 that would tell us photosynthesis took place. Now in order for the solution to be drawn into the leaf we needed to add the soap. That was one of the most important steps of the process because the soap wet the hydrophobic face of the disk (leaf) which will allowed the solution to sink into the leaf. We counted the amount of leaves at the end of each minute in each cup when we put the cups under the light. The control was used to show how the bicarbonate stood in for CO2 and made the leaves rise faster. It gave us something to compare with.
When using the sodium bicarbonate, the bicarbonate ions stood in for the CO2 needed to perform photosynthesis. The data showed that the leaves rose much faster when put in the solution. We came to the conclusion that this was because there were almost no CO2 molecules in the control, and there were many (bicarbonate ions) in the bicarbonate solution. CO2 (or the substitute) is needed for photosynthesis to take place as it is part of the equation. With little CO2 (or substitute), it will take much longer for the leaves to rise to the top. The leaves rose to the top in four minutes with the solution and seven without. This is a three minute difference which signifies the differential in amounts of CO2. The average rate of photosynthesis is very important to understand as it can allow one to compare two environments and their effects on photosynthesis. It also determines the amount of energy a cell can make. The same god for respiration. If one can understand the average rate of respiration then one can know how much energy a cell makes and how fast it can make it. All in all, studying the photosynthetic rate in plants is important as it allows one to see the advantages of using the sun as a power source. This statistic could help one understand how much energy they would get from solar panels by capturing the sun's energy. In this lab we learned that photosynthesis needs every part of its equation to function properly.
Lesson 10: Photosynthesis (Inquiry and Research)
1. Energy is the ability to do work.
2. Photosynthesis serves as a way for autotrophs to obtain energy. It acts as a manufacturer of power for cells. Photosynthesis also produces oxygen as a bi-product, which is crucial for most heterotrophic life.
3a. The intermembrane space is the place between the inner and outer envelopes. It does not have any function that relates to photosynthesis.
3b. The stroma is the space outside the thylakoid membranes. It is where the Calvin cycle takes place.
3c. The thylakoid membranes are sac like membranes that have chlorophyll inside. The light reactions of photosynthesis take place here.
3d. The grana are neat stacks of granums that consist of the thylakoid membranes.
3e. Chlorophyll is a green pigment. Light energy is absorbed by two electrons in this type of molecule in the light reaction stage. This gives them enough energy to leave the molecule.
3f. Chloroplasts are organelles found in plants and algae and are the energy makers. Chloroplasts make energy using sunlight and CO2, and act in a similar way to mitochondria in terms of powering cells.
4. In C4 plants, photosynthesis takes place in inner cells and requires the Kranz anatomy. C4 plants photosynthesize faster than c3 plants in high heat and intense light. In CAM plants, the stromata are left open at night and CO2 is stored as an acid before photosynthesis. During the day, the CO2 is broken down. CAM plants use water more efficiently than c3 plants in arid climates.
5. In light reactions, the first stage of photosynthesis takes place. In light reactions light energy is turned into ATP and NADPH which are energy carrying molecules. In independent light reactions, also known as the Calvin cycle or C3 cycle, these energy molecules are turned into more useful things such as glucose. They both perform photosynthesis, as they are the first and second stages.
2. Photosynthesis serves as a way for autotrophs to obtain energy. It acts as a manufacturer of power for cells. Photosynthesis also produces oxygen as a bi-product, which is crucial for most heterotrophic life.
3a. The intermembrane space is the place between the inner and outer envelopes. It does not have any function that relates to photosynthesis.
3b. The stroma is the space outside the thylakoid membranes. It is where the Calvin cycle takes place.
3c. The thylakoid membranes are sac like membranes that have chlorophyll inside. The light reactions of photosynthesis take place here.
3d. The grana are neat stacks of granums that consist of the thylakoid membranes.
3e. Chlorophyll is a green pigment. Light energy is absorbed by two electrons in this type of molecule in the light reaction stage. This gives them enough energy to leave the molecule.
3f. Chloroplasts are organelles found in plants and algae and are the energy makers. Chloroplasts make energy using sunlight and CO2, and act in a similar way to mitochondria in terms of powering cells.
4. In C4 plants, photosynthesis takes place in inner cells and requires the Kranz anatomy. C4 plants photosynthesize faster than c3 plants in high heat and intense light. In CAM plants, the stromata are left open at night and CO2 is stored as an acid before photosynthesis. During the day, the CO2 is broken down. CAM plants use water more efficiently than c3 plants in arid climates.
5. In light reactions, the first stage of photosynthesis takes place. In light reactions light energy is turned into ATP and NADPH which are energy carrying molecules. In independent light reactions, also known as the Calvin cycle or C3 cycle, these energy molecules are turned into more useful things such as glucose. They both perform photosynthesis, as they are the first and second stages.