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Detecting Plant Gas Exchange

Plants carry out both photosynthesis and respiration.

Hydrogencarbonate indicator

Hydrogencarbonate indicator

  • Hydrogencarbonate indicator changes colour depending on how much carbon dioxide is in a solution.
  • It can be used to show how much photosynthesis and respiration an aquatic plant (like pondweed) is doing, by adding it to the water the plant is in.
High CO<sub>2</sub>

High CO2

  • Hydrogencarbonate indicator turns yellow in high levels of carbon dioxide.
  • Since CO2 is produced in respiration and used up in photosynthesis, this suggests the plant is respiring more than it is photosynthesising.
  • This result can be seen if the plant is kept in the dark.
Low CO<sub>2</sub>

Low CO2

  • Hydrogencarbonate indicator turns purple in low levels of carbon dioxide.
  • Since CO2 is produced in respiration and used up in photosynthesis, this suggests the plant is photosynthesising more than it is respiring.
  • This result can be seen if the plant is kept in bright light.
Normal atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>

Normal atmospheric CO2

  • Hydrogencarbonate indicator turns red in normal atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide.
  • Since CO2 is produced in respiration and used up in photosynthesis, this suggests the plant is respiring at the same rate that it is photosynthesising.
Jump to other topics
1

The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2

Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3

Organism Functions

3.1

Respiration

3.2

Gas Exchange

3.3

Transport

3.4

Excretion

3.5

Coordination & Response

4

Reproduction & Inheritance

5

Ecology

6

Biological Resources

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