Aim: The purpose of this investigation is to determine the effects of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis in Elodea.
Hypothesis: I predict that as the temperature increases, the production of oxygen bubbles from a submerged aquatic plant, such as Elodea, will increase at a proportional rate.
Background Information: Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants synthesize their food from atmospheric carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll. .
The process of photosynthesis may be summarized as follows: .
Light .
6CO2 + 6H2O 6C6H12O6 + 6O2 .
Chlorophyll .
Carbon dioxide is released in the atmosphere by respiration, combustion of fuels, decay and decomposition of dead plants and bodes. However, aquatic plants get CO2 in the form of bicarbonate ions (HCO3 ) from bicarbonates present in water. All green plants utilize the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, during the daytime for photosynthesis. In plants, both photosynthesis and respiration continue alternatively during day and night, but during day time, the amount of carbon dioxide consumed is more than that released during respiration. During early morning, evening hours and shade, the intensity of light is low, so the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed is nearly equal to that released. .
Water is an important raw material for photosynthesis. During drought conditions, the photosynthesis rate decreases. Also closing of stomata, owing to less water content, affects carbon dioxide absorption during photosynthesis .
During photosynthesis, the energy from the sunlight is converted into potential chemical energy in plants. Higher the intensity of light, higher the rate of photosynthesis.
However, just as photosynthesis can be increased by these factors, the rate of photosynthesis can also be slowed down.
