Photosynthesis Lab

For this lab, I tried to find out a way to measure photosynthesis and to see any changing factors in photosynthesis. This was a two-day lab with different results and procedures each time.

On the first day, I established how to complete the lab. To do the lab, I cut a leaf into six circular bits, then made a vacuum to release oxygen and close pores letting oxygen out. After that, the leaf bits were dropped into a solution of water, a pinch of baking soda, and a drop of liquid detergent. I put it under light and got my results. Four minutes and 30 seconds after the cup was put under a light, the first leaf bit was at the top of the cup. At 8 minutes and 50 seconds, two more were at the top. Eleven minutes after putting the leaf bits under the light, I was out of time and disallowed the final three leaf bits to rise to the top. This was under a lamp emitting white light.

On the second day, more factors were added to the situation. Instead of six bits, I cut a leaf into twenty bits. The same general process was carried out, but leaf bits were put in one of two containers this time. One covered in blue cellophane wrap, the other in yellow cellophane wrap. The two wrapped jars were put next to each other in the sunlight. Here are the results:

The outcomes were very interesting. The leaf bits under the blue light photosynthesized easily, while the yellow light leaves barely did anything. You can see on the graph at left that all 10 leaves under blue light photosynthesised within a quick ten minute period, while only two leaves under yellow light had time to photosynthesize. The color differentiation really changed the results of photosynthesis. Below this graph is another one, as well as pictures of the leaf-bit-containers.

Yellow covered leaf bits (day 2)

Blue covered leaf bits (day 2)

Clear leaf bits (day 1)