Absorbance Spectrum Lab Report

There are two main types of chlorophyll, chlorophyll a which absorbs wavelengths of 430nm (blue) and 662 (red) and is the main photosynthetic pigment, and chlorophyll b, which doesn’t directly participate in the photosynthetic process, but is capable of donating its energy to chlorophyll a

After the serial dilutions of the red and blue dyes were taken, the molarity and absorbance for both dyes were calculated. Using the MiVi = MfVf equation, the concentrations for each value of the red and blue dye were separately calculated. Calculating absorbances calls for setting the correct wavelengths of light for each dye. In this case, the 470 nm wavelength for red dye and the 635 nm wavelength for blue dye was needed to find the maximum absorbances. The absorbance was found by blanking the colorimeter and entering the concentrations. After both values of the absorbances and concentrations were found, the values were then graphed in order to obtain the equation of the relationship between absorbance and concentration.

The purpose of this experiment is to determine the maximum absorbance of fast green, and the chlorophylls, also in the case of fast green create a concentration curve to determine an unknown substance. Each test will use the spectrophotometer.

The procedures for experiment A, B, and C all start the same. The first step is to put on goggles and get the data collection device set properly. The labquest needs to be plugged into the colorimeter accurately so that a click is heard when putting it in. The labquest needs to be reading digitally and the colorimeter needs to be set to 635 nm. Then shake the chloroplast solution and take a clean cuvette and fill it with 3 mL of distilled water, 3 drops of the chloroplast solution, and cap it. This is used as a blank to calibrate your labquest. Double check that the labquest is reading absorbance, this assures that the colorimeter is plugged into the labquest accurately. Insert the blank into the colorimeter and hit the calibration button. Take out the blank and empty it. The labquest is now set to experiment with. Make sure that the heat bank is set in front of the lamp and that the lamp is on. The cuvette must be placed on the opposite side of the heat bank in the path of light in the box so that no other light can interfere with the experiment.

5. The degree of precision was to 3 significant figures obtained with the spectrophotometer. The major source of error in our experiment was not calibrating the spectrophotometer with distilled water.

In the beginning of this experiment, our TA added water, salt, and 75/25 hexane/acetone to spinach leaves to a blender and blended the mixture to assume equal amounts for each group and to avoid erros if each student had to do the blending. The addition of the water to the mixture allowed the it to separate into a distinct organic layer after being run in a centrifuge, which was available to be collected at the top of the centrifuge. Salt reduces solubility, which will force the organic parts of the mixture (the desired pigments for example) to separate into the organic layer at the top. Lastly, 75/25 hexane/acetone is added because this is a moderately polar solvent and will useful for both the non-polar and polar pigments present within the spinach leaves. A mixed solution of hexanes and acetone must be used because acetone is very polar, while hexane in very non-polar, and the spinach leaves contain both non-polar and polar pigments in them that are important in the extraction and for further analysis. The mixture was placed in the centrifuge so the solids in the mixture (mostly cellulose) could be separated from the liquids into separate distinct layers for further extraction and testing. In the tube, the organic substances separated into the top layer, whereas the water layer remains at the bottom of the tube below the solid layer made up of mainly cellulose.

Abstract: The purpose of this lab is to separate and identify pigments and other molecules within plant cells by a process called chromatography. We will also be measuring the rate of photosynthesis in isolated chloroplasts. Beta carotene, the most abundant carotene in plants, is carried along near the solvent front because it is very soluble in the solvent being used and because it forms no hydrogen bonds with cellulose. Xanthophyll is found further from the solvent font because it is less soluble in the solvent and has been slowed down by hydrogen bonding to the cellulose. Chlorophylls contain oxygen and nitrogen and are bound more tightly to the paper than the other pigments.

Using the yellow tube, which included everything but starch, as the blank, each group zeroed their spectrophotometer. This was done so that any absorbance observed depends only on the amount of starch present, not on any other reagents (buffer, IKI). To zero the spectrophotometer, the wavelength was first set at 580nm, using knob 3 (45). Next, the groups made sure that the light next to “transmittance” was lit, and the chamber to be tightly closed. Having the chamber empty & closed tightly provides reference for the darkest condition possible. Using knob 1, the transmittance was turned until it read 0.0 (45). Before the groups used their blank test tube to zero the spectrophotometer, each needed to wipe the tube with kimwipes to ensure a clean reading. Turning knob 2, each group was then instructed to zero the absorbance, 0.000. Upon removing the blank, each trial was inserted into the chamber (46). The

The initial experiment was a success. As our treatment group spent more and more time under the lights, the absorbance rate continues to decrease toward zero. Once our 30 minutes were up, the absorbance rate in each tube was significantly lower than at the start of our experiment. In contrast the two control groups did significantly lower the absorbance. Each control lacked one of the vital aspects of photosynthesis, one being light, and the other being chloroplast. Neither of the control groups (Control 1 or 2) showed any signs of photosynthesis. Control 1 was exposed to light, but contained no photosynthetic organelles thus the absorbance throughout the 30 minutes varied minimally, mostly staying stagnant. Control two which contained chloroplast but was not exposed to any light failed to lower the absorbance at all and in fact increased the absorbance over the 30 minutes. However, the treatment group contained both and ultimately performed photosynthesis as we expect therefore, confirming our assumption that chloroplast were the organelles required for photosynthesis in plants and that light is required to perform said photosynthesis. The treatment group, containing both the chloroplast and being exposed to light provided evidence that photosynthesis was taking place as the absorbance lowered at each 10-minute interval. Having a less absorbance would be desired because as DCIP became reduced we would expect the solution to become more and more clear, thus less

Pigments extracted from different greens have different polarities and may be different colors. Mixed pigments can be separated using chromatography paper. Chromatography paper is able to separate mixed pigments due to their polarity and solubility. Pigments of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and beta carotene will be separated on chromatography paper because each has its own polarity and solubility, which results in different distance traveled up the paper. Beta carotene is non-polar so it travels the highest distance, followed by chlorophyll a. Chlorophyll b is the most polar; therefore, it travels the shortest distance. The separated pigments on the chromatography paper can be eluted in acetone and absorbance spectrum is

The highly conjugated system of the cyanine dyes makes it a very good compound in the development of more efficient solar cells. In this experiment, the maximum wavelength was measured for nine dyes using a UV-Vis spectrum. The result that were obtained agreed with Kuhn’s model for the less polarizable end groups such as 3,3 '-diethyloxadicarbocyanine and 3,3 '-diethyloxatricarbocyanine. That suggested that these two compounds were not as easy to polarize compared to the rest of the dyes. The rest of the dyes required the use of the empirical parameter α to provide more reliable predictions of the wavelengths. This was due to the highly polarized ends of the dyes which needed the adjustment of the parameter to get more accurate results. The series with the higher polarizable end groups’ absorbed higher wavelength light than the less polarized groups. This supported the idea of the one-dimensional box. Also, higher wavelength was determined to be associated with longer conjugated carbon methine chains between the Nitrogen atoms. Kuhn’s free electron model was very reliable for this system.

The purpose of this experiment was to take spinach leaves and extract the chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments by using acetone as the solvent. The chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments were extracted by using column chromography and alumina was used as the solvent. Solvents of different polarities were used, starting with the least polar, to extract the certain components from the leaves. They were then analyzed by using thin- layer chromatography.

For lab 12, it is hypothesized that chlorophylls a and b are present in a plant leaf and contribute to the starch production in photosynthesis. Also, products of photosynthesis will be present in leaf tissue exposed to red and blue light wavelengths for several days, but a decreased presence in leaf tissue exposed to green and black light wavelengths. In lab 13, it is expected that since chlorophylls a and b are more polar and smaller molecules than the anthyocyanins and carotenoids, they will travel higher up the chromatography paper than the other pigments.

However, the photosynthetic process can be affected by different environmental factors. In the following experiment, we tested the effects that the light intensity, light wavelength and pigment had on photosynthesis. The action spectrum of photosynthesis shows which wavelength of light is the most effective using only one line. The absorption spectrum plots how much light is absorbed at different wavelengths by one or more different pigment types. Organisms have different optimal functional ranges, so it is for our benefit to discover the conditions that this process works best. If the environmental conditions of light intensity, light wavelength and pigment type are changed, then the rate of photosynthesis will increase with average light intensity and under the wavelengths of white light which will correspond to the absorption spectrum of the pigments. The null hypothesis to this would be; if the environmental conditions light intensity, light wavelength and pigment type are changed, then the rate of photosynthesis will decrease with average light intensity and under the white light which will correspond to the absorption spectrum of the pigments.

8) Steps 1 - 8 were repeated using the wavelengths of 360 nm to 900