Spinach Leaf Photosynthesis

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Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to see how long it takes for the 10 spinach leaf discs to undergo photosynthesis and thereby rise in the two solutions. Hypothesis: All of the leaf discs in the sodium bicarbonate solution should be floating before the discs in plain water because the bicarbonate is a carbon source that will allow photosynthesis to continue. Background: Light is absorbed by leaf pigments (chlorophyll) which makes electrons within a photosystem moved to a higher energy level. The leaves then make ATP, which reduces NADP to NADPH, and add CO2 into organic molecules. When the leaves go through the process of a light-dependent reaction by being placed in water, oxygen is created through photosynthesis and is released into the interior of the leaf. This causes the leaf to rise. However, since cellular respiration is happening at the same time, the oxygen is also being used up. This means that the leaves must …show more content…

The vacuum we made was to remove the air from the discs and fill it with the sodium bicarbonate solution. Because they now lack the gases that were keeping them afloat, the discs sink to the bottom of the solution. But when light is added shortly afterward, the discs start to float again. Chlorophyll inside the discs absorb the light and make ATP. Despite this reaction, cellular respiration is still occurring within the spinach leaves. In order to continue with the process of photosynthesis, the leaves need to have access to a source of carbon. Conclusion: The sodium bicarbonate solution led to a faster rate of photosynthesis they will sink as the CO2 was what was keeping them afloat. However, if photosynthesis occurs, then the leaves will once again float until photosynthesis is no longer possible. This is because when oxygen if created as a byproduct of photosynthesis, it will enter the