LABORATORY PRACTICE GUIDE

BIOLOGY 10TH GRADE

“Osmosis and Photosynthesis”

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Name: _________________________
10TH grade sect.: ____
Group no. ____________

Date: ____________________

Teacher:
Mrs. Leysis Alvarado
Genesis 1:29:

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of
all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for
meat."

Background:
Osmosis is the movement of solvent molecules (usually water) across a selectively permeable
membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute
concentration. In other words, it's the diffusion of water through a membrane.

Selective Permeability: A selectively permeable membrane allows certain molecules to pass

through while blocking others. In osmosis, water molecules can pass through the membrane,
but solute molecules cannot, or they pass through at a much slower rate.

Concentration Gradient: Osmosis occurs when there is a difference in solute concentration on

either side of the membrane. Water moves from the side with lower solute concentration to
the side with higher solute concentration in an attempt to equalize the concentrations on both
sides.

Osmotic Pressure: The movement of water across the membrane creates a pressure called
osmotic pressure. This pressure can be significant, especially when dealing with concentrated
solutions or in biological systems.

Importance in Biology: Osmosis is crucial for maintaining the balance of water and solutes
inside and outside of cells. It plays a key role in processes like nutrient uptake, waste removal,
and maintaining cell turgor pressure in plants.

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light
energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose. This process occurs in chloroplasts,
specialized organelles found in plant cells. Here's a brief explanation of the key points:
1. Input: Photosynthesis requires three main inputs: sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
Sunlight provides the energy needed to drive the process, while water and carbon
dioxide are the raw materials used to produce glucose.
2. Process: Photosynthesis can be divided into two main stages:
• Light-dependent reactions: These reactions occur in the thylakoid membranes of
the chloroplasts. Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll and other pigments,
leading to the generation of ATP and NADPH, which are energy carriers. Water
molecules are also split (photolysis), releasing oxygen gas as a byproduct.
• Light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle): These reactions occur in the stroma
of the chloroplasts. ATP and NADPH generated in the light-dependent reactions
 are used to convert carbon dioxide into glucose through a series of enzyme-
catalyzed reactions. This process is known as carbon fixation.
3. Output: The primary output of photosynthesis is glucosa, a carbohydrate that serves as
an energy source for the plant. Oxygen gas is a lso released as a byproduct of the light-
dependent reactions.
4. Importance: Photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth as it is the primary process
responsible for producing oxygen and organic compounds. Oxygen produced during
photosynthesis is released into the atmosphere, supporting aerobic respiration in animals
and other organisms. Additionally, glucose serves as a source of energy for plants and
is a precursor for the synthesis of other organic molecules necessary for growth and
development.

MATERIALS
These materials are for the three practices

1. Small aquatic plant with roots 12. Small plastic bottle

2. Baking soda (2) 13. Spoons
3. Flashlight 14. Disposable transparent cups
4. Green leafy plant 15. Acetone
5. Small pot 16. Hand towel
6. Fresh spinach leaves 17. Paper towel
7. 10ml syringe without needle 18. Table salt
8. Scissors 19. Cutter
9. Stopwatch 20. 2 medium-sized washed potatoes
10. Measuring spoons 21. Food coloring
11. Scissors 22. alcohol

Practice 1: Investigation of Photosynthesis

Objective:
To observe and understand the process of photosynthesis in plants.

Materials:

Fresh spinach leaves (or any other green Boiling water bath
leafy vegetable) Alcohol (e.g., ethanol or rubbing alcohol)
Test tubes or small glass containers Hot plate or stove
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) Mortar and pestle (optional)
Water Filter paper (optional)
Light source (e.g., sunlight or a lamp) Chlorophyll extraction solvent (e.g.,
Beakers or cups acetone)

Procedure:

Preparation of Leaf Extract:

Grind fresh spinach leaves in a mortar and pestle with a small amount of alcohol to extract
chlorophyll. If a mortar and pestle are not available, tear the leaves into small pieces and
place them in a beaker with alcohol.
Heat the mixture in a boiling water bath for a few minutes to extract chlorophyll effectively. Be
cautious with heat and use appropriate safety measures.

Preparation of Experimental Setup:

Fill the test tubes or glass containers with water.

Add a pinch of sodium bicarbonate to each tube to provide carbon dioxide for
photosynthesis.

Observation of Photosynthesis:

Submerge a leaf or leaf disc into each test tube, ensuring it is fully submerged in water.
Place one test tube in the light (e.g., under sunlight or a lamp) and one in the dark (e.g., inside
a cupboard).
Allow the setups to stand for a few hours, observing any changes.

Results and Analysis:

After an hour , observe the test tubes. The one exposed to light should show the production of
oxygen bubbles, indicating photosynthesis has occurred.
The test tube kept in the dark should not show significant oxygen production.

Practice 2: Demonstration of Oxygen Production

Objective:
To demonstrate and quantify the production of oxygen by an aquatic plant through
photosynthesis under different light conditions.

Materials:
Beaker Aquatic plant
Water: Approximately 100-200 ml Test tube
Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda): Funnel
Approximately 0.1-0.5 g Lamp or bright light source

Procedure:
Preparation of bicarbonate solution:

Fill a beaker with water. Use approximately 100-200 ml of water.

Add a small amount of baking soda to the water. You can use approximately 0.1-0.5 g of
baking soda.

Placement of the aquatic plant in the beaker:

Take a sprig of Elodea or Cabomba and cut it so that it has a clean, cut end.
Place the plant in the beaker of water, with the cut end facing upwards. Make sure to
completely submerge the plant in the water.

Assembly of the oxygen collection device:

Place a funnel upside down over the plant in the beaker.

Place a test tube filled with water over the mouth of the funnel. The open end of the test tube
should be completely submerged in the water in the beaker.

Exposure to light:

Place the beaker with the plant and the oxygen collection device under a lamp or bright light
source.
Ensure that the light directly illuminates the plant.

Observation and recording:

Turn on the lamp and observe the accumulation of oxygen bubbles in the test tube.
Record the number of oxygen bubbles released into the test tube over a period of 20-30
minutes.

Practice no. 3: Observation of Osmosis in Potatoes

Objective:
To observe the process of osmosis by placing pieces of potato in solutions of different
concentrations.

Materials:

Fresh potatoes (preferably of the same size Water

and variety) Salt solution (saltwater)
Knife or cutter Ruler
Small transparent containers (cups, small Paper and pencil for note-taking
glasses, or test tubes) Food coloring

Procedure:

Preparation of Solutions:
Prepare two different solutions: one salt solution and one pure water solution. The salt solution
should have a high salt concentration, while the water should be salt-free.
You can add food coloring to each solution to easily distinguish them.

Cutting the Potatoes:

Cut the potato into slices or small pieces of the same size.
Make sure you have enough pieces to place in each solution.
 Setting Up the Experiment:
Place pieces of potato in each of the small containers.
Fill one container with the salt solution and another with pure water. Ensure that the pieces of
potato are fully submerged in each solution.

Observation and Note-taking:

Take notes on the initial appearance of the potatoes and the level of liquid in each container.
Let the containers sit for at least half an hour.

Analysis of Results:
After the set period of time, observe and record any changes in the appearance of the
potatoes and the level of liquid in each container.
Measure and compare the size of the potato pieces before and after the experiment.

EVALUATION

1. What was the purpose of adding baking soda in the Investigation of Photosynthesis
experiment?

2. What changes did you observe in the spinach leaves after chlorophyll extraction?

3. What was the difference in oxygen production between the test tube exposed to light
and the one kept in darkness in the Investigation of Photosynthesis experiment?

4. How was the oxygen collection device assembled in the Demonstration of Oxygen
Production experiment?

5. What role does light play in oxygen production by aquatic plants in the Demonstration
of Oxygen Production experiment?

6. Why was it important to cut the potatoes into uniform-sized pieces in the Observation of
Osmosis in Potatoes experiment?