The Influence of Light on Photosynthesis

The influence of light on Photosynthesis

Table of contents

Front page and table of contents

Page 1

Introduction

Page 2

Review of literature

Page 3 and 4

Methodology and presentation of findings

Page 5 and 6

Procession of findings

Page 7

Conclusion

Page 8

Introduction

In this project I believe the outcome will be that light energy is essential for photosynthesis to occur. The aim was to show that light is necessary for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy into chemical potential energy and storing it as starch. This process occurs in plants and some algae. Plants need light energy, CO2, and H2O to make sugar. The process of photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts, specifically using chlorophyll in green leaves. We have been told in class that the four factors necessary for photosynthesis are light, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll and temperature. The factor I decided to test was light because photosynthesis is often called a “light reaction” and I from this I knew light must be vitally essential for the process to take place. The main source of energy during photosynthesis is light.

Review of literature

Transcript of Grade 11 Biology - Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a chemical process in which a plant uses solar energy to create energy storing organic compounds from carbon dioxide (C02). The plant uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, which is a carbohydrate.

This all happens in the chloroplasts in the leaf cells using chlorophyll. The chlorophyll absorbs the solar energy and splits the water (H2O) molecules releasing the oxygen from the water molecule into the air. Then, in the stroma of the chloroplasts, the hydroge...

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Conclusion

In my experiment the areas that were deprived on sunlight did not change colour when iodine was placed on them, therefore they did not produce starch. This proves that they did not photosynthesise. I tested for starch to see if photosynthesis took place because green plants use chlorophyll in their leaves to absorb light energy. They use the light energy to react carbon dioxide with water to make glucose. The glucose is used in respiration, or converted into starch and stored. This is why I used the stretch test. In my first experiment when I placed my plant on a window sill with not much sun the plant did not photosynthesise at all. The second time I placed it into direct sunlight and the areas exposed to sunlight produced starch. Starch is produced only in areas that received light, proving that Light is necessary for photosynthesis.