Photosynthesis Lab Report

Photosynthesis is one of the most important processes on Earth, it being the primary source of chemical energy. Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the air and turns it into oxygen upon releasing it. The oxygen the plants release through photosynthesis is the main requirement for aerobic respiration. Photosynthesis occurs in the thylakoid membranes in eukaryotic algae and plants. In our experiments we tested the light intensity, absorption spectrum, and action spectrum of photosynthesis. In the light intensity experiment we tested the effects of different light intensities on the rate of photosynthesis. Our hypothesis for this experiment was that the various distances of light would affect the reduction of DPIP. Our null hypothesis

We then added 400 microliters to the test tubes excluding our blank. We then measure each one’s absorbance in the spectrophotometer that is set at 605 nm. Then, we set each of the test tubes up in different light intensities. The first test tube was wrapped in foil to avoid light, the second was placed 24 cm away from the light, the third was placed 30 cm away from the light, and the fourth one was placed 49 cm away from the light. In 5-minute intervals we would take each test tube and test their

We then put five mL of chromatography solvent into a Coplin jar and set the silica gel strip into it where the drops were above the solvent then closed the lid. We then removed the strip when the solvent reaches the top of the strip and then marked the colors from top to bottom in the table. Then we calculated the Rf value for each color. After, we began taking “readings for each pigment from 400 nm to 700 nm in 50 nm increments” (Hayden, 2017). Then we recorded the