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The Effect Of Ph On The Rate Of Photosynthesis

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Maggie Morris
Leaf Disks: The Rise from Bottom to Top
ABSTRACT
This experiment demonstrates the effects of pH on the rate of photosynthesis by examining the behavior of leaf disks in different pH solutions under light. In this experiment, we used five different pH levels: pH 5, pH 6, pH 7, pH 8 and pH 9. These solutions were created using a combination of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. Spinancia olcerea or spinach, leaves were used in the experiment to examine the effects of pH on the rate of photosynthesis. The rate of photosynthesis was measured by counting the number of leaf disks that rose to the surface of the solution after each minute. In acidic solutions, the rate of photosynthesis increased while in basic solutions, the rate of photosynthesis decreased.

DESIGN (D)
DEFINING THE PROBLEM AND SELECTING VARIABLES The intention of this experiment is to determine the effects of pH on the rate of photosynthesis in living leaves. Photosynthesis is a process by which plants convert light energy captured from the sun into chemical energy which they use to perform various plant functions. During the photosynthesis process, light, carbon dioxide, and water react to produce products: sugar and oxygen. The equation for photosynthesis is:

Photosynthesis occurs in the palisade mesophyll of plant leaves. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is broken up into 6 carbon for the sugar molecule and 12 oxygen. In this lab, I determined the rate of photosynthesis in spinach

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