Lab report on Photosynthesis

The lab intents on exploring the significance of sunlight in photosynthesis using the spinach disks. Photosynthesis is the process of utilization of water, carbon dioxide and sunlight by plant to produce sugar and oxygen which occurs in the green leaves of the plant. The experiment involves using the spinach disks containing samples to examine the effects of different lightson photosynthesis. The important feature of the leaf is the light-dependent reaction diring photosynthesis as it is detailed in the cycles of photosynthesis (Blankenship, 2013). Procedure and materials used materials:

• 250 ml Beakers
• 500 ml of tap water
• Syringes
• Spinach disks
• Bicarbonate solution
• Light source and control mechanisms: (white-yellow, black, yellow red light provisions)
• Stirring rod
• Timer
• Liquid soap/ detergent

Procedure

The experiment began with the preparation of a solution of bicarbonate in a beaker followed by 10 disks of cut spinach. Thereafter, I placed a disk on a syringe that was later filled with the bicarbonate solution by creating a vacuum to make our disk sink within the setup. After making these components, the syringe was then emptied into the beaker and placed closer to the source of light by a few inches. After this, the setup was timed for about six (6) minutes by monitoring how the disks rose to the highest level in the beakers. The numbers of each disk rising the top of beaker solution were recorded against time during the lab sessions for a couple of minutes. The data was then recorded as shown in the result sections.

Results

Concisely, the rate of photosynthesis by the spinach disks varied with a variation on the types of light. This shows that the lights have different qualities and different wavelengths. According to the results, the Halogen light which has yellow-white color appeared to be more effective in facilitating the process of photosynthesis.

Diagram 1

Diagram one (1) shows that the highest number of spinach disks floated to the highest levels under the Halogen lights. At the same time, exposure to the black light initiated a lower impact that showed a constant effect, with no serious float onto the surface of the solution. However, the disks did not float under no light at all. This acted as a control experiment to help monitor the level of impact among the different types of lights on the process of photosynthesis in the lab. The major objective of the experiment was to examine the impacts of different types of light on the processes of photosynthesis in the plant leaves. Spinach disk acted as the live plant leaves in the lab. Evidently, the variation in the level and the rate of floating among the various spinach disks under different conditions indicates the concern on the quality and quantity of light needed in the process of photosynthesis even in the contemporary environment.
Where there is no light in the environment, the disks failed to rise in the solution implying that there was no photosynthesis, taking place on such a leaf. Consequently, the disks responded to the variation of light sources in different ways within the lab setup. Halogen source had the highest response on the disks followed by the incandescent sources. Simultaneously, the black light had a little impact on the rising of the disks within the solutions of the experiment.

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Discussion

Initially, the aim of the experiment was to examine the impacts of different types of light on the process of photosynthesis by the spinach leaves. The elements of light are very important in the process of photosynthesis and the food chain as well. The spinach exposed to the halogen rays demonstrated a higher rate of floatation to the surface. Halogen light has qualities that are similar to those of the sunlight owing to its yellow-white complex in the ecosystem. Traditionally, white light has a large spectrum of colors similar to those offered by the sunlight in the process of photosynthesis (Roberts, Long, Tieszen, & Beadle, 2014). Thus, the data presented demonstrate that the halogen light has a higher influence on the process of photosynthesis as compared to the black light and the incandescent light.
White light has a higher wavelength and amalgamates all colors that ignite the activity of every part of the cells within the spinach disk. These resemble the action of the chlorophyll pigments within the spinach leaves prompting faster photosynthetic. In the same way, sunlight ignites the action of the chlorophyll components to facilitate photosynthetic processes within the plant system.
However, in this experiment, possible errors may arise from improper designing of the control experiment during the study process. At the same time, using Halogen light as a mechanism of replacing the sunlight begs the question on how relevant is the relationships of white light and the halogen. Thus, the alteration of light as a major component of photosynthetic process desires a high level of control experiment mechanisms. Additionally, the process of cutting the spinach disks may interfere with the cellular organization of some disk leading to a slow response in some cases. Hence, extra care should be taken in the process of experimental setups in any other experiments like this to avoid the possibilities of the errors during the study.

Conclusion

Concisely, the rate of photosynthetic does not seem to depend on the source of light as the major element. Nonetheless, light sources that produce white light bear the highest impact on the rates of photosynthesis in the leaves. Therefore, the halogen light source has a very close link to the sunlight that produces white light. Hitherto, the experiment confirms that the spinach disks exposed to the halogen light experience the highest rate of photosynthesis. Contrariwise, there should be a clear concern on the experimental setup to avoid the possibility of errors in the lab. The process of photosynthesis is very crucial in the food. It forms the foundation for the production of energy in the communities.
Thus, such experiments should be carried out under highly controlled environments to avoid errors of human organizations. This experiment will help in future arrangements of the lab session. Typically, the disks should be carefully cut to avoid interfering with the veins and other normal cellular activities within the leaf structure.

References

Blankenship, R. E. (2013). Molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis. John Wiley & Sons.
Roberts, M., Long, S. P., Tieszen, L. L., & Beadle, C. L. (2014). Measurement of plant biomass and net primary production. Techniques in Bioproductivity and Photosynthesis: Pergamon International Library of Science, Technology, Engineering and Social Studies, 1.
Muneer, S., Kim, E. J., Park, J. S., & Lee, J. H. (2014). Influence of green, red and blue light emitting diodes on multiprotein complex proteins and photosynthetic activity under different light intensities in lettuce leaves (Lactuca sativa L.). International journal of molecular sciences, 15(3), 4657-4670.