4. photosynthesis experiments

Question 1

you can investigate the pigments in leaves using

Answer 1

chromatography

Question 2

all plants contain

Answer 2

several different photosynthetic pigments in their leaves

Question 3

each pigment absorbs a different

Answer 3

wavelength of light

Question 4

having more than 1 type of pigment

Answer 4

increases the range of wavelenghts of light a plant can absorb

Question 5

in addition to photosynthetic pigments some plants have other pigments in their leves which play other essential roles e.g.

Answer 5

protecting the leaves from excessive UV radiation

Question 6

different species of plants contain

Answer 6

different proportions and micturres of pigments

Question 7

what can you use to determine what pigments are present in the leaves of a plant

Answer 7

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

Question 8

like all chromatography TLC involves

Answer 8

a mobile phase (where molecules can move) liquid solvent

a stationary phase (where molecules can’t move) solid plate with thin layer of gel on top

Question 9

a sample of pigments can be extracted from the plants and put on the

Answer 9

TLC plate

Question 10

when the TLC plate containg extract of pigments is placed in the solvent

Answer 10

solvent moves upwards through the gel carrying the dissolved pigments with it.
some pigments travel faster or further than other pigments which seperates them out

Question 11

its possible to identify a certain pigment by

Answer 11

calculting its Rf value and looking it ip in a database

Question 12

what is the Rf value

Answer 12

the distance a substance has moved through the gel in relation to the solvent (each pigment has a specific Rf value)
Rf value = disance travelled by spot / distance travelled by solvent qwqw