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A group of students designed a series of experiments to investigate factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis in plants - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2002 - Paper 1
Question 5
A group of students designed a series of experiments to investigate factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis in plants. The plants were enclosed in clear plastic... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A group of students designed a series of experiments to investigate factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis in plants - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 5 - 2002 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
a. ii. By referring to your balanced equation, explain why the oxygen concentration in the air surrounding the plants can be used as a measure of the rate of photosynthesis.
Answer
Oxygen is a byproduct of the photosynthesis process, as indicated in the balanced equation. Therefore, the concentration of oxygen in the air surrounding the plants reflects the rate of photosynthesis; an increase in oxygen concentration indicates a higher rate of the reaction. Consequently, measuring the oxygen level provides a quantifiable means to assess the efficacy of photosynthesis.
Step 3
b. Explain why the oxygen concentration in the air surrounding the plants decreased during the first 10 minutes of the experiment.
Answer
During the initial 10 minutes, the plants were kept in the dark, which inhibited the process of photosynthesis. However, respiration continued, where plants consume oxygen to generate energy. As a result, the oxygen in the air surrounding the plants was used up faster than it could be produced, leading to a decrease in oxygen concentration during this period.