| Explore | |
|---|---|
| Research Question | What is the effect of pH on the rate of photosynthesis of spinach? This experiment will help us find if there is any effect pH has on photosynthesis, which is something not yet known by previous experiments done. |
| Predictions | |
| Experimental Design | Step 1: fill 2 50-ml beakers with about 30 ml of deionized H2O Step 2: use a straw to breath in solutions for 60-90 seconds Step 3: measure the pH of the solutions using a pH and put on a data table Step 4: add to each solution a set amount of its corresponding substance (baking soda, lemon juice, etc.) Step 5: add 1 drop of soap to both beakers Step 6: hole punch 15 disks per solution Step 7: remove gases inside leaf disks and infiltrate them with the 2 solutions prepared earlier Take out plunger of syringe and then put 15 disks for one of the solutions into the syringe Get leaf disks towards the needle end of the syringe Put plunger back into syringe, and use syringe to pull up some of the desired solution until 1/3 of the syringe’s capacity Hold syringe upwards, and make sure all the disks are as close to the bottom of the liquid as possible Hold the tip up still as you try to get all the air from the syringe Release and put the solution into the beaker, repeat until done for all solutions Step 8: Place all the solutions under the light source (lamp) Step 9: record number of disks that float for 25 minutes (while checking each minute) on a data table For this experiment the equipment used is: Syringe 100 ml beakers Lamp (light) Lemon juice (pH of 2) Baking soda (pH of 9) Soapy water (pH of 12) Tomato juice (pH of 4) Hole puncher Spinach leaves Deionized water Stirring rod Straw (to put CO2) Tape Permanent markers pH meter |
| Conclusion | |
| Investigation Theme | POS |
| Grade Level | High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12) |
| School Name | California Academy of Mathematics and Science |
| Session | Fall 2017 |