Photosynthesis and Chromatography

Essay by evianxHigh School, 11th gradeB, February 2004

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Chromatography

Planning B- This experiment is an analysis of the separation of plant pigments. The analysis is done to examine the types of pigments found in spinach leaves mixed with acetone. The stems of the spinach were removed. The remaining leaves were squashed together in an acetone-filled mortar using a pestle. After obtaining a green mush, chromatography was ready to be done. Three pieces of chromatography paper were cut to a similar shape to the long pointed centrifuge tube. A capillary tube was cut at the end to absorb some of the green pigment. Using the tube, a dot of green was dabbed onto the different papers 1 cm above the tip and dipped into a solvent-filled centrifuge tube. Each paper was dipped into one of three solvents. The variable was controlled by making sure that each dot was the exact same green so there was an equal visual view of the results.

After 15-20 mins the tube was checked. The distance from the new dot to the original dot was measured in centimeters. The various new colors that appeared were taken note of and compared.

Limiting Factors

Planning A- The purpose of this experiment was to observe the presence of starch in two different types of leaves through two types of methods. Two limiting factors, chlorophyll and light, were observed. Qualitative measuring was done to measure how much starch, if any at all, was produced and how the leaf reacted to light.

Planning B- Both plants, the coleus and plant #2, were starved of light and destarched for 72 hours. After being starved, a stencil was applied to a leaf from plant #2 which was then attached to a lamp. All parts of the leaf except the stencil were covered with aluminum foil to control the variable of...