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How to Make a Photosynthesis Graph

Photosynthesis is a process which plants use in order to generate food molecules such as carbohydrate. The process uses light, carbon dioxide and water in order to produce carbohydrate and oxygen. The vast amounts of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere is due to photosynthesis of the many billions of plants. Students can carry out simple photosynthesis experiments in order to test the main factors that affect the rate, such as temperature. Once an experiment has been carried out, a simple graph can be generated in order to demonstrate the results.

Things You'll Need

Elodea plant
600 milliliter beaker
Test tube
Laboratory clamp
Electric lamp
Thermometer
Hot plate
Graph paper

Instructions

- 1
  Fill the test tube with water and place the Elodea plant in the water. Ensure the water completely covers the plant. Use the laboratory clamp to hold the test tube upright. Place the hot plate underneath the test tube so that it makes contact.
- 2
  Plug in the electric lamp, switch it on and direct it at the test tube. Fill the large beaker full of water and place it in between the lamp and the test tube. When the lamp is switched on, a stream of oxygen bubbles should be seen rising to the top of the test tube. Place the thermometer in the test tube in order to measure the water temperature.
- 3
  Count the number of bubbles that are seen rising within the test tube in one minute at room temperature. Repeat this with the hot plate on and at different temperatures.
- 4
  Record the results on a table. Label the first column "Temperature (Degrees Celsius)" and the second column "Number of bubbles in one minute."
- 5
  Draw the graph axes. Label the x-axis "Temperature (Degrees Celsius)" and the y-axis "Number of bubbles in one minute." Plot the points on the graph.

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