Quick Lab What Waste Material Is Produced During Photosynthesis?

Quick Lab – What waste material is produced during photosynthesis?

Materials plastic cup, sprig of elodea plant, test tube

DAY 1:

1. Grab materials. Label cup with group names/initials and period number.

2. Fill the plastic cup about half full with sodium bicarbonate solution. HINT FOR QUESTIONS: The sodium bicarbonate solution is a source of carbon dioxide.

3. Place an elodea plant sprig in the test tube with the cut stem at the bottom. FILL the tube with sodium bicarbonate solution. CAUTION: Handle the test tube carefully.

4. Hold your thumb over the mouth of the tube. Turn the tube over, and lower it to the bottom of the cup. Make sure there is no air trapped in the tube. If there is air trapped, redo this process.

5. Leave your lab setup towards the back of the work station to make observations after 24 hours. Clean up your work station and work on the questions below.

Day 1 questions – Answer IQIA in the lab section of your journal. (Use your books!)

1. What is the role of autotrophs in the carbon cycle?

2. What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs? (Can draw a Venn Diagram instead of answering IQIA.)

3. What is the equation (reactants/products) of photosynthesis?

4. Write a hypothesis about what the waste material will be inside of the test tube.

5. Where in the cell does photosynthesis (in entirety) occur?

6. Draw Figure 8-4 from page 206 into your journal.

7. Describe the role of ATP and NADPH in photosynthesis. Include a discussion of their roles in both the light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle.

DAY 2:

1. Return to your setup and look closely at the elodea leaves/gas. Record your observations in your journal.

2. Thoroughly wash out your materials. DO NOT throw out your elodea sprig. Return all your materials. Clean your work station and return to your seats to complete all questions from day 1 and day 2.

Day 1 questions – Answer IQIA in the lab section of your journal.

8. What did you observe on the elodea leaves?

9. What substance accumulated IN the leaves and what substance could be considered a waste product? Explain.

10. What plant organelle carries out photosynthesis and produces the gas?