Lab 6: Photosynthesis Flashcards
Why is photosynthesis important for life on earth?
It is is the primary process in which plants convert light energy into glucose and oxygen. Glucose is used for food, and oxygen is used for respiration, both are needed to sustain life.
Why is chlorophyll green?
Chlorophyll appears green because it absorbs most wavelengths of visible light except for green, which it reflects.
What does the absorption spectra tell us about chlorophyll pigment?
It tells us about the specific wavelengths of light that chlorophyll molecules can absorb.
Would the absorption spectrum be diffferent than that of chlorophyll for carotene? Explain.
The absorption spectrum of carotene would likely differ from that of chlorophyll because it absorbs blue and green light and reflects orange and red regions, causing its distinct orange and red color.
List the pigments and their colors found in spinach leaf extract.
- Carotenes (yellow orange)
- Xanthorphylls (pale yellow)
- Chlorophyll a (bluish green)
- Chlorophyll b (yellowish green)
Why did we make the spinach extract in an organic solvent?
Organic solvents have a high affinity for organic molecules, so the spinach extract was made in an organic solvent to effectively extract the chloroplast pigments.
What are the factors that allow seperation of pigments by paper chromatography?
- Molecular weight of pigments
- Hydrophobicity of pigments in the specific solvent
- Affinity of pigments for the paper
What is the formula for calculating the distance traveled by a particular pigment relative to the distance traveled by the solvent?
In the elodea lab experiment, what was measured to calculate the rate of photosynthesis?
The rate of oxygen released by a plant immersed in a solution.
What is the formula for calculating the rate of photosynthesis in the elodea lab?
