Topic > The three experiments on photosynthesis, chromatography and wavelength of light

IndexIntroductionMethods and materialsDiscussionThree interrelated experiments were conducted. The first was to see how starch is only stored when a plant is able to perform photosynthesis. Using iodine, he showed how much starch was stored. The darker the leaf absorbs iodine, the more starch is stored. The second involves separating the pigments of a plant to see what colors make up the plant. Using the chromatography technique, the separation of pigments is clearly visible. The final experiment showed the wavelengths of light that are absorbed by spirulina and geranium. Knowing this, you can know which colors help plants perform photosynthesis efficiently. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Introduction Photosynthesis is a cycle that occurs in plants when light energy is used to convert into chemical energy that then provides fuel for other living organisms. During this process, light energy is absorbed by a green substance in chloroplasts called chlorophyll. This converts CO2 from the air and water into glucose which releases the oxygen we use to breathe. Without light photosynthesis, it will not produce glucose efficiently. The green pigment of plants is made up of different colors that the plant absorbs. Chromatography is a technique used to see which pigments make up the color of a substance, in this case the color of plants. Chromatography works by placing a dot of a substance on special chromatography paper and, using a solute, travels along the paper to separate the different pigments. Therefore, revealing different colors of pigments. The role of light plays a very important role in plants. Plants are able to absorb specific wavelengths of light ranging from 380 nm to 700 nm. This spectrum is the colors that humans see (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet). From purple which has the most energy to red which has the least. Different colors are effective for the plant to absorb and perform photosynthesis efficiently. Colors like purple/blue and red are the most effective at providing energy to the plant. Methods and Materials Three separate experiments were conducted. The first was done by taking two geranium leaves. One was placed under the light for 48 hours and the other was not exposed to light for the same period of time. Then, a beaker half filled to about 300 ml with distilled water was placed on a hot plate to boil. After the water was brought to a boil, both leaves were set to “cook” until they resembled overcooked vegetables. After cooking, both leaves were placed in a glass and placed back into the water by making it a water bath with the addition of ethanol to the glass. It was left alone until the leaves were bleached. The leaves were then placed on a Petri dish and iodine was poured in. The leaves were then left to macerate in iodine. The second experiment was conducted. The spinach leaves were obtained along with a mortar and pestle and started grinding the leaves. Then some sand, spirulina powder and acetone were poured onto the spinach. Using gauze and a glass underneath, the contents of the spinach were poured, leaving the liquid. With a wooden stick and chromatography paper, a dot was placed about an inch from the bottom of the paper. This was done ten times to ensure there was sufficient pigment concentration for the.