Photosynthesis Lab

This lab was conducted to explore the light energy, pigments and the rate of photosynthesis in magnolia leaves. In experiment one a magnolia leaf was used to see the separation of primary and accessory plant pigments using a process called paper chromatography. The importance of this process was to discover which pigment had the highest band along a piece of filter paper and identify various plant pigments in a magnolia leaf such as xanthophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids that aid magnolia leaves during photosynthesis. Based on the conducted experiment, it can be concluded that chlorophyll a was the pigment that showed the highest band on the piece filter paper which means that chlorophyll a is the primary pigment in photosynthesis

4.) What conclusions can you draw about which color in the visible spectrum causes the most plant growth?

The use of paper chromatography to separate plant pigments from spinach leaves worked very well. The pigments were separated into five distinguishable groups and were then placed in solution. As past experiments have shown, the most polar pigments would stay near the bottom of the paper, and the

To understand pigments and their part in the essential process of photosynthesis, we constructed an experiment to discover first-hand the effectiveness of specific pigments found in pimento leaves. These two exercises would specifically focus on the difference in polarities and the different wavelengths at which each pigment absorbs light. The ultimate source of energy for most organisms is sunlight. This research expresses the importance in understanding the driving force behind crucial photosynthetic organisms that are responsible for converting solar energy into chemical energy and ultimately the fixation of carbon dioxide. The polarity of three of the specific pigments studied, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and xanthophylls, was determined by separating the plant pigments by paper chromatography and calculating their Rf values. Once the pigments separated along the paper chromatography strip, we cut the different pigments bands and eluted them from the paper into a beaker filled with acetone. We were then able to analyze the wavelengths of light absorbed by the pigments through the use of a spectrophotometer. We predicted the wavelengths for chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, anthocyanidins, xanthophylls, and carotenoids. From the first experiment we were able to determine that xanthophylls, which traveled the farthest of the three, was

The technique that allows scientists to follow with their own eyes the dynamic movements of specific proteins as they occur within the living cell is the green fluorescent protein. This is a protein that is extracted from only a few jellyfish. This diffuses a green fluorescent colored light. The green fluorescent protein can be blended to the protein and can work normally and so does the protein itself that it is binded to. The protein is not affected and can be moved and transported throughout the cell and can then be seen.

In this lab the experiment was conducted to determine whether or not sweating has an effect on body temperature, or if sweating helps maintain a stable internal environment (homeostasis). The hypotheses was that if two cans that are filled with boiling water were wrapped in a wet and dry cloth then the can wrapped in the wet cloth will cool down faster. Every 30 seconds the temperature was recorded in degrees Celsius from the two cans wrapped in cloth, the cloth was held to the can using rubber bands. After 15 minutes of measuring the temperature it was concluded that the can wrapped in the wet cloth dropped in temperature much quicker. This is because as the water from the wet cloth evaporates it helps cool down the temperature of the boiling

 DNA is in the living cell and it can be subject to many chemical alterations.

In the effect of light wavelength experiment, the action spectrum is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of various wavelengths of light on photosynthesis. To observe these effects of the wavelengths the wavelength pigments red, blue, green, white light, and no light are used. In the experiment, spinach leave disks were aspirated in a sodium bicarbonate solution in order to remove all internal gases and make the disks sink to the bottom of a beaker. Each beaker full of 10 spinach disks was placed into a different box with a different colored light source.

In 1937, Robert Hill isolated chloroplasts and demonstrated that chloroplasts can give off oxygen in the absence of CO2. The presence of an electron acceptor, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, otherwise known as DCPIP, will turn from a blue color to clear when electrons have been accepted. This artificial electron acceptor intercepts electrons before those electrons reach PS I. Based upon this chemical feat, this will allow for the measurement the absorbance of 600nm wavelength of cuvettes containing free chloroplast reactions at various conditions, such as the effects of uncouplers (Ammonia), herbicides {3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea} (DCMU), light color, and distance from light. Using the isolated chloroplast, sodium chloride buffer, and the artificial electron acceptor, these manipulations will be carried out and the rate of the reaction measured using a spectrophotometer. The results expressed both the uncoupler and herbicide decrease reaction rate, 30 cm away from a 60 watt light bulb is prime for fast reaction rate, and green light demonstrated the fastest reaction rate.

By examining the absorption spectra of pigment extracts over a range of wavelengths unique aspects of plant tissues can be identified. By examining the absorption level of each pigment over a range of time unique similarities and differences can be identified.

Photosynthesis is a two stage process by which plants, as well as some protists and bacteria, reduce carbon dioxide and oxidize water to convert sunlight into chemical energy, producing oxygen as a byproduct. For photosynthesis to be properly carried out by an organism, it must find itself in the proper environmental conditions with careful consideration of the pH. Research has proven that the optimal pH for the many algae organisms is between 7.0 to 10.0 (Coleman & Colman, 1981). As a strong base, NaOH is often used to adjust the pH in order to reach the optimal value based on the amount of free CO2 (Pedersen et. al. 2013).

The purpose of this lab was to examine the inhibitor DCMU (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) which is a herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis and DCPIP (2,6-Dichlorophenolindophenol) which is an electron acceptor and a colorimetric indicator, on the reaction rate of the light reaction. The light reactions of photosynthesis and if chlorophyll will fluoresce under certain circumstances were also examined. An absorbance spectrum was determined by using a spectrophotometer and a slide projector was also used to examine the relationship between absorption and fluorescence wavelengths from the prepared extracted chlorophyll. In this lab the rate of photosynthesis was also examined. There were two tests tubes filled with 1.5% sodium bicarbonate

However, the photosynthetic process can be affected by different environmental factors. In the following experiment, we tested the effects that the light intensity, light wavelength and pigment had on photosynthesis. The action spectrum of photosynthesis shows which wavelength of light is the most effective using only one line. The absorption spectrum plots how much light is absorbed at different wavelengths by one or more different pigment types. Organisms have different optimal functional ranges, so it is for our benefit to discover the conditions that this process works best. If the environmental conditions of light intensity, light wavelength and pigment type are changed, then the rate of photosynthesis will increase with average light intensity and under the wavelengths of white light which will correspond to the absorption spectrum of the pigments. The null hypothesis to this would be; if the environmental conditions light intensity, light wavelength and pigment type are changed, then the rate of photosynthesis will decrease with average light intensity and under the white light which will correspond to the absorption spectrum of the pigments.

To understanding pigments in plants in relation to light, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and spectroscopy are used to test the

In this lab, a few pieces of spinach were grinded to extract all of the pigment molecules from the leaves. The extract was then put through a piece of filter paper to filter out the large bits of spinach. The extract was then put in a microcentrifuge to help separate the pigment molecules from any larger pieces left in the extract. The extract was placed on a single spot on a piece of filter paper. The filter paper was then placed into a chromatography solvent to separate the pigment molecules further. The distance that the pigment molecules went were measured, and then the Rf for each were found. It was found that the leaves of spinach used contained the following pigments; xanthophyll 2, chlorophyll a, and beta-carotene. The pigments xanthophyll 1 and chlorophyll b were not found in this experiment, most likely due to an error in the technique or procedure. Furthermore, the hypothesis was found to be partially accurate due to the fact that chlorophyll a, xanthophyll 2, and beta-carotene were found, but chlorophyll b and xanthophyll 1 were not found. The Rf found experimentally for xanthophyll 2 was 0.15, and the actual Rf is 0.15, which means that there was a zero percent error. The Rf found experimentally for chlorophyll a was 0.52, but the actual Rf is 0.59, which indicates there is twelve percent error. Finally, the Rf found experimentally for beta-carotene was 0.84, but the actual Rf is 0.98, which indicates that there was a fourteen percent error. The Rf