Chapter 11 Experiments

Chapter 11
Respiration & gas exchange

Experimental skill 11.1
Investigating
the effect of
temperature on respiration
in yeast
Method
 Mix yeast with sugar solution in a boiling tube
 The sugar solution provides the yeast with glucose for anaerobic
respiration
 Carefully add a layer of oil on top of the solution
 This prevents oxygen from entering the solution (prevents aerobic
respiration in the yeast)
 Using a capillary tube, connect this boiling tube with another boiling tube
that is filled with limewater
 Place the boiling tube with yeast and sugar solution into a water bath at a set
temperature and count the number of bubbles produced in a fixed time (e.g. 2
minutes)
 The rate that carbon dioxide is produced by yeast can be used to measure the
rate of anaerobic respiration (i.e. the rate of fermentation)
 Change the temperature of the water bath and repeat
Results and analysis
 Compare results at different temperatures to find out at
which temperature yeast respires fastest
 The higher the temperature, the more bubbles of carbon
dioxide should be produced as higher temperatures will be
closer to the optimum temperature of enzymes in yeast,
increasing enzyme activity
 As respiration is an enzyme controlled reaction, as enzyme
activity increases, the rate of anaerobic respiration will
increase
 If the temperature is too high (beyond the optimum
temperature), the enzymes will denature causing carbon
dioxide production to slow down and eventually stop
What are the variables in this experiment
 Independent variable: Temperature
 Dependent Variable: Number of bubbles per minute
 More bubbles = More CO2
 Faster rate of respiration
 Controlled Variables:
 Volume of water added to yeast measured by graduated cylinder
 Concentration of glucose added to yeast solution
 Type of yeast used should be the same in all different temperatures
 Amount of yeast added measured by measuring spoons
 PH of the solution Using buffer
 Duration of time for each temperature should be the same
Experimental skills 11.2
Investigating the
difference in composition
between inspired and
expired air
Which chemical is used to test for CO2 in
exhale air?
Lime water (Calcium Hydroxide)
 When we breathe in, the air is drawn through
boiling tube A
 When we breathe out, the air is blown into boiling
tube B
 Lime water is clear but becomes cloudy (or milky)
when carbon dioxide is bubbled through it
 The lime water in boiling tube A will remain clear,
but the limewater in boiling tube B will become
cloudy
 This shows us that the percentage of carbon dioxide
in exhaled air is higher than in inhaled air
To compare the amount of CO2 in
inspired & expired air
A comparison of inspired and expired air.
Challenging Question
Activity 11.3
Investigate the effect of

physical activity on rate
and depth of breathing
 Exercise causes the frequency of breathing to increase
in order to provide more oxygen for respiration and to
pay off any subsequent oxygen debt
 We can investigate the effect of exercise on breathing
using the following method
 Apparatus
 Stop watch
2 students
Method
 Work out student A's breathing rate at rest
 Count their number breaths for 15 seconds and multiply by 4
 Repeat several times to calculate an average
 Student A should then exercise for a set time (at least 4 minutes)
 Immediately after exercising, count the breaths taken in 15 seconds
and multiply by 4 to obtain the breathing rate per minute
 Compare the result to the breathing rate at rest in order to work out
the change in breathing rate as a result of exercise
 Repeat this last step every minute after exercise for 5 minutes
 Repeat the process for student B
 Finally, repeat the whole investigation for each student after a period
of rest
Results & Analysis
 Frequency of breathing increases when exercising
 This is because muscles are working harder and aerobically respiring more and
they need more oxygen to be delivered to them (and carbon dioxide removed) to
keep up with the energy demand
 If they cannot meet the energy demand they will also respire anaerobically,
producing lactic acid
 After exercise has finished, the breathing rate remained elevated for a period
of time
 This is because the lactic acid that has built up in muscles needs to be removed as
it lowers the pH of cells and can denature enzymes catalysing cell reactions
 It can only be removed by combining it with oxygen - this is known as ‘repaying
the oxygen debt’
 This can be tested by seeing how long it takes after exercise for the breathing rate
to return to normal
 The longer it takes, the more lactic acid produced during exercise and the greater
the oxygen debt that needs to be repaid
Limitations
 It is important to consider the following:
 It is difficult to control all variables in relation to the students being tested e.g.
fitness and food consumption prior to the exercise
 Solution: Ensure students are similar size, general fitness, age, gender and provide
each with the same meal before exercise
 Activity is hard to replicate exactly for each reading
 Solution: Give students an exercise type where intensity is easier to control e.g.
running at a certain speed on a treadmill or cycling with a specific power output on a
watt bike
 Breathing rate can vary substantially and changes quickly after exercise finishes
 Solution: Begin counting the breathing rate as soon as the time interval begins and
only measure for 15s (or less) then multiply up to calculate breaths per minute
 Students may become more fatigued throughout the duration of the investigation
(especially with repeats)
 Solution: Allow significant rest breaks in between exercises and ensure that periods of
exercise are not prolonged
Comparison between aerobic &
anaerobic respiration

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Chapter 11

Respiration & gas exchange

Investigate the effect of

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