Most of media and public attention has focused on the effects that higher concentrations of CO2 are likely to have on the global climate. However, rising CO2 concentrations are also likely to have profound direct effects on the growth of plants because CO2 is a reactant in photosynthesis. Also, the effects of elevated CO2 are not uniform: those that utilize the C4 variant of photosynthesis show less of a response to elevated CO2 than do other types of plants. In this experiment, different masses of Sodium bicarbonate will be added to distilled water to make different percent concentration solutions, and ultimately provide different amount of CO2 concentration. Spinach (C3 plant) disks will then be added to the solutions and placed under light to perform photosynthesis. The aim of this experiment is to determine the effect of the concentration of sodium bicarbonate in the solution on the rate of photosynthesis. The rate of photosynthesis will be measured by the amount of oxygen produced from the process, more specifically oxygen produced by the spinach disks that will make the disks float. Rising CO2 is therefore likely to have complex effects on the rate of photosynthesis, and this lab will be able to determine the optimal concentration of CO2 that will maximize the rate of photosynthesis in spinach leaves. It is likely that the rate will plateau after a certain amount of CO2 because the number of enzymes that carry out this reaction will be saturated.
Introduction.
The purpose of this lab is to find out the effect of the concentration of NaHCO3 on the rate of photosynthesis. Cells are structural and functional units of every biotic organism. Each cell can absorb nutrients and convert it into energy, carry out specialized functions, and reproduce if necessary (NCBI). They are composed of many organelles, little organs which contain specific roles in cells to make it function properly as a whole (Ireland).
