Rates of Reaction Investigation

Rates of Reaction Investigation

Aim - We are trying to see what effect changing light intensity has on

the volume of oxygen produced.

Prediction - Photosynthesis is where a plant uses sunlight, carbon

dioxide and water to produce oxygen and glucose.

The equation for this is:

Carbon dioxide = water ====== glucose = oxygen

I predict that as the lamp is placed further away from the plant the

amount of oxygen produced will decrease. The factors that will affect

the rate of photosynthesis are the amount of sunlight, the amount of

carbon dioxide and water. These affect the rate of photosynthesis

because they are the main factors. Temperature also affects the rate

of photosynthesis because the enzymes stop working when the

temperature becomes too high. The enzymes also work better at a warmer

temperature than at a colder temperature because the particles move

faster. This means that the faster moving particles collide with each

other more. The more they collide the faster the rate of

photosynthesis. The only plants that can photosynthesize are plants

that are green. The plants that are green contain the pigment

chlorophyll can photosynthesize. After entering the leaf through the

stomata the carbon dioxide is trapped. The stomata in the leaf control

how much water and carbon dioxide are let in and how much oxygen and

glucose is released. The water is carried through the xylem from the

roots and it is trapped in the chloroplasts. When the light hits the

leaf its energy is trapped and used to break the bonds in the water

and carbon dioxide. This means that the two compounds are being split

into their elements. The elements of carbon dioxide, hydrogen and

oxygen reform to create the compound glucose and molecules of oxygen.

A limiting factor is one, which will not change so it is limited. The

factor that I am going to change is light intensity. This is the main

factor that will affect the rate of photosynthesis. The more light

there is the more oxygen that will be produced.