Clorophyll Pigments

            A scientific study on a factor affecting the rate of photosynthesis.
            
            
            
            
            
            
             All of these factors change the rate of photosynthesis and to be efficient in analysing how these limiting factors change the rate we will study one, leaving all other variables the same to make it a fair test.
             Pigment.
             How does the pigment of a leaf affect the rate of photosynthesis? .
             Pigments vary in leaves the investigation comprises of testing if a certain pigment affects the rate of photosynthesis. This means that all other variables must remain the same throughout the experiment.
             Pigments:.
            
             • Purple.
            
             • Red.
            
             • Dark green.
            
             • Light green.
             To see if photosynthesis can occur you have to measure the amount of the reactants and products before and after the experiment.
             6H20 + 6CO2 = C6H12O6 + 6O2.
             The amount of CO2 at the beginning of the experiment compared to the end will tell us the amount that has being used for photosynthesis thus telling us the rate at which each leaf can photosynthesise. .
             A way to test this is by using Bicarbonate solution; by leaving the solution in a area of CO2 with the solution being yellow the decrease of CO2 will show as the solution passes from yellow-orange -red-purple. The deeper the colour gets, the less CO2 is around the plant showing the amount that has being used for photosynthesis. .
             Prediction.
             I predict that the purple leaves will photosynthesise the fastest because it will absorb indigo and violet light waves. These colours have the shortest wavelengths, these means that they are scattered more than light with longer wavelengths and have a lot more energy (Gamma rays are very destructive and have very short wavelengths). This energy is transmitted through radiation to be used in photosynthesis thus the energy increases the rate of the reaction.
             Method .
             1. You will need the 4 coloured leaves, 2 spotlights, 4 test tubes, 4bungs, sellotape, 40ml-bicarbonate indicator (yellow) and a thread and needle.