University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Pharmacy S.Y.

2012-2013
Diamzon, Ma. Victoria Francesca S. Duquil, Micaella Anne A. Elpa, Denzel Thomas T. Espiritu, Tiffany Rae S. Esteban, Lorenz Rey A. Francisco, Kathleen Anne E.

Uptake of Carbon Dioxide and Evolution of Oxygen

I.

Introduction:
The process that occurs in living plants in which light energy is converted to chemical energy is called photosynthesis. In the biochemical reaction, carbon dioxide (lightindependent) takes place, while oxygen (lightdependent) takes place in the photochemical reaction. The oxygen is a byproduct of photosynthesis. A part of the oxygen will then be used in the process of respiration, but a larger amount is released to the environment.

V.

Results and Explanation:

Initial solution after blowing:

Solution after 60 minutes of being exposed to sunlight:

II.

Objectives:
1. To determine the uptake of carbon dioxide and release of oxygen by Hydrilla, an aquatic plant. 2. To know the result of exposing to sunlight a Hydrilla plant that is submerged in water with phenol red dye.

III.

Materials:
250 ml Erlenmeyer flask Phenol red dye Plastic straw Large test tube Hydrilla plant Cork stopper Iron stand

The phenol red solution was yellow after blowing. This is because Carbon Dioxide combines with water forming Carbonic acid in the process. Carbonic acid has a lower pH, therefore phenol red turns yellow. After exposing the Hydrilla to sunlight for 60 minutes, the solution slowly turned dark orange. This is because the amount of Carbon Dioxide present in water decreased as the plant underwent photosynthesis. The decrease of Carbon Dioxide, therefore increases the pH of the solution, thus turning it into dark orange. The solution did not fully turn back to red because of the lack of sunlight; thus, the solution only turned back to dark orange.

IV.

Procedure:
Place 70 ml of water in the Erlenmeyer flask and add a minute amount of phenol red dye. This would turn the solution red which indicates that the pH is neutral

Blow mouthfuls of your breath into the soultion until it becomes yellowish (acidic). Fill 2/3 of a large test tube with the already yellow solution. Pin a bundle of Hydrilla to the bottom of the cork and plug it on the mouth of the tube so that the Hydrilla is immersed in the solution. Clamp the test tube in inverted postion to an iron stand and expose it under the sun for 30-60 minutes. Observe the change in color from yellow back to red. This is an indication that oxygen gas has evolved in the solution.

VI.

Conclusion:
We, therefore, conclude that the release of oxygen of the Hydrilla plant, which was the cause of the turning back of the color from yellow to dark orange, is an indication of photosynthesis. This is the result of the plant undergoing photosynthesis. Consequently, it takes up Carbon Dioxide and releases Oxygen.

References:
Cobar, M. A. C., Laurente, O., and Vasquez, R. (2012). Manual in General Botany with Taxonomy (Bot 102). Manila, Philippines: UST Publishing House.

Mauseth, J.D. (2009). Botany: An Introduction to Plant th Botany (4 ed.). Sudbury, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publisher