Experiment No 2

Aim: To prove that transpiration occurs from the aerial parts of a plant.
Requirements: Bell jar, potted plant, cobalt chloride paper, rubber or plastic sheet, Vaseline or grease
etc.

Observations:
After sometime droplets of a liquid are observed on the inner side of the wall of the bell
jar.
These droplets when brought in contact with the Cobalt chloride paper turn it blue from
pink this proves the droplets to be of water.
Conclusion:
From this experiment it has been proved that transpiration occurs form the aerial parts

of a plant.

Precautions:
1. Always cover the exposed soil of the pot properly with the rubber sheet or else stray moisture from the
soil may give erroneous results.
2. The margin of the bell jar should be properly shielded with Vaseline or grease to avoid atmospheric
moisture from affecting the experiment.
 Experiment No 3
Aim: To measure the rate of transpiration using Ganong’s Potometer
Requirements: A healthy well watered plant, Ganong’s Potometer, water, small beaker, Vaseline or
grease.
Description:
Ganongs potometer is an all glass tubular device to measure the arte of transpiration.
One end of the potometer ends in a wide mouthed receiver to which the twig plucked
from the healthy well watered plant is affixed using a split cork sealed with Vaseline.
The other end is dipped in a small beaker filled with water. The entire instrument is also
filled with water in which an air bubble is inserted which will move and act like a
pointer indicating the amount of water lost during transpiration.

Observation:
After some time the bubble is seen moving towards the twig, thus showing loss of water
on account of transpiration from the twig.
The rate of movement can be calculated against the time which gives the rate of
transpiration.

Conclusion:
Water is lost from the aerial parts of the plant the rate of which however varies
according to the atmospheric conditions.

Precautions:
Since it is an all glass device therefore we should not put undue stress on it.
All the ends and joints should be properly sealed with grease or Vaseline.
 Experiment No. 4

Aim To compare the rate of transpiration occurring from the upper and lower surface of leaves.
Requirements: A well watered potted plant, Cobalt chloride paper, Glass slides, rubber band or string.
Observations:
After some time it has been observed that the cobalt chloride paper attached to the
lower surface develops more intense pink colour in comparison to the upper surface.

Conclusion:
From this observation we can conclude that transpiration occurs more from the lower
surface of leaves.

Discussion:
This happens as more number of stomata occurs on the lower surface of the leaf.
Precautions:
1. Do not expose the CoCl2 paper unnecessarily to the air as the moisture of the air may
make the paper pink.
2. The plant should be healthy and free from injuries.
 Experiment No. 5
Aim: To study and observe photosynthesis and also prove that light is necessary for photosynthesis.
Requirements: A destarched plant, Black paper strips with stencil marks, iodine solution, white tile,
water bath, alcohol etc.
Observation:
After some time it has been observed that the portions of the leaf which were covered
with black paper fail to give positive starch iodide test i.e. remain colourless, while the
parts which were exposed to light develop blue black colouration.

Conclusion:
From this experiment we can conclude that light is necessary for photosynthesis.
Discussion:
Light is one of the important factors which affect the rate of photosynthesis. But the rate
of photosynthesis is affected only upto a threshold limit after which the rate becomes
stabilized/ constant as rest other factors like CO2 concentration, water play a crucial
role in limiting the rate of photosynthesis (Blackmann’s Law of Limiting Factors)
Precautions:
1. Always take a properly destarched plant or else the background starch may give
erroneous results.
2. Always boil the leaf first in water prior to alcohol as boiling the leaf directly in alcohol
will make it brittle.
3. Always use a water bath for boiling the leaf in alcohol as it may lead to spitting out of
alcohol from the boiling tube and can also catch fire.
 Experiment No. 6
Aim: To study and observe photosynthesis and also prove that chlorophyll is necessary for
photosynthesis.
Requirements: A destarched plant, a variegated leaf like Croton, iodine solution, white tile,
water bath, alcohol etc.
Observation:
After some time it has been observed that the portions of the leaf which were with
chlorophyll gave positive starch iodide test i.e. became blue black, while the parts which
were without chlorophyll failed to give a positive starch iodide test.

Conclusion:
From this experiment we can conclude that Chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis.
Discussion:
Chlorophyll is one of the important factors which affect the rate of photosynthesis. But
the rate of photosynthesis is affected only upto a threshold limit after which the rate
becomes stabilized/ constant as rest other factors like CO2 concentration, light and
water play a crucial role in limiting the rate of photosynthesis (Blackmann’s Law of
Limiting Factors)
Precautions:
1. Always take a properly destarched plant or else the background starch may give
erroneous results.
2. Always boil the leaf first in water prior to alcohol as boiling the leaf directly in alcohol
will make it brittle.
3. Always use a water bath for boiling the leaf in alcohol as it may lead to spitting out of
alcohol from the boiling tube and can also catch fire.
 Experiment No. 7
Aim: To study and observe photosynthesis and also prove that Carbon dioxide is necessary for
photosynthesis.
Requirements: A destarched plant, KOH or NaOH pellets, hard glass tube, split cork, Vaseline, iodine
solution, white tile, water bath, alcohol etc.
Observation:
After some time it has been observed that the portions of the leaf which were inside the
had glass tube containing KOH or NaOH pellets failed to give a positive starch iodide
test.

Conclusion:
From this experiment we can conclude that Carbon dioxide is necessary for
photosynthesis.
Discussion:
Chlorophyll is one of the important factors which affect the rate of photosynthesis. But
the rate of photosynthesis is affected only upto a threshold limit after which the rate
becomes stabilized/ constant as rest other factors like CO2 concentration, light and
water play a crucial role in limiting the rate of photosynthesis (Blackmann’s Law of
Limiting Factors)
Precautions:
1. Always take a properly destarched plant or else the background starch may give erroneous
results.
2. Always boil the leaf first in water prior to alcohol as boiling the leaf directly in alcohol will
make it brittle.
3. Always use a water bath for boiling the leaf in alcohol as it may lead to spitting out of alcohol
from the boiling tube and can also catch fire.
 Experiment No. 8
Aim: To study and observe photosynthesis and also prove that Oxygen is produced during the process
of photosynthesis.
Requirements: A Hydrilla plant, water, funnel, beaker, NaHCO3 powder, alkaline pyrogallol, splinter
and matchstick.
Observation:
After some time bubbles of a gas are observed coming out of the plant at regular
intervals later the number of bubbles increases upon addition of NaHCO3. Finally the
top of the inverted test tube is filled with the gas and the level of water is lowered down.
When the gas was brought in contact with the glowing splinter it rekindles the same.
The same gas when brought in contact with alkaline Pyrogallol becomes brown from
red. This proves the gas thus produced to be Oxygen.
Conclusion:
From this experiment we can conclude that Oxygen in produced during the process of
photosynthesis.

Discussion:
The process of Photosynthesis consists of two distinct phases-
The light dependent phase and
The light independent phase.
The light dependent phases utilizes the photonic energy of the light for the excitation of
chlorophyll and the excited chlorophyll then ejects an electron which is transferred to
the ETS during the same water molecule is split which thus produces Oxygen.

Precautions:
1. The plant should be fresh and living.
2. As far as possible fresh water should be used for the experiment as tap water may not
contain sufficient oxygen for the experiment to sustain.
3. Never add excess of NaHCO3