Example Student Responses

Im Trying to Breathe Here!

Spinach Leaf Investigation Data Collection & Activity Sheet

GRAPHS & DATA- Copy from labquest a rough sketch of the graphs for each
set-up. Make sure to label your axes and use an appropriate scale. Record at
least 10 data points in the tables below.

Darkness Graphs

Darkness Data Table

Time (min)

O2 Level (ppt)

TIme (min)

CO2 Level (ppt)

206.0

0.30

205.8

0.33

205.5

0.37

205.2

0.40

205.1

0.42

204.0

0.44

10

204.9

10

0.45

12

204.7

12

0.47

14

204.6

14

0.50

15

204.5

15

0.52

Looking at your data points, what type of function would best represent this data? Why do you
think so?
A linear function would best represent my data because overall, there seems to be a constant
change in both my O2 and CO2 levels. I think this is because the processes that are happening in
the plants are happening at a constant rate.
Light

Light Data Table

Time (min)

O2 Level (ppt)

TIme (min)

CO2 Level (ppt)

209

0.40

208.5

0.36

208.2

0.30

208.4

0.26

208.8

0.24

209

0.21

10

209.3

10

0.20

12

209.8

12

0.18

14

210.2

14

0.15

15

211

15

0.10

Looking at your data points, what type of function would best represent this data? Why do you
think so?
Again I think a linear function would best represent my data because although there is a slight
dip in the O2 graph, overall there is a pretty constant increase in one and decrease in the other.
These graphs are going to be more steep because the photosynthesis process occurs at a little bit
faster rate than the darkness processes.

QUESTIONS
1. When you covered the container with foil what was happening to the CO2 and O2 levels? What
cellular process or processes were occurring in leaves? Explain.
The CO2 levels were steadily increasing while the O2 levels were steadily decreasing. This
means cellular respiration was occurring, since the plant still needs to convert glucose into ATP
so the plant has energy to function. For cellular respiration to occur, the cells were taking in O2
and releasing CO2. Photosynthesis couldnt occur because no light could reach the leaves due to
the foil.

2. Find the line of best fit for both of your darkness graphs (make sure to record equation). Does
this support your answer in number 1. Why or why not?
The line of best fit for CO2 in the dark is y = 0.0112x + 0.30
The line of best fit for the O2 in the dark is y = -0.0724x + 206
This does make sense because it supports the process of respiration. In the dark, respiration
should be happening and thus the amount of CO2 is increasing over time while the amount of
oxygen is decreasing because the plants do not have light to make more oxygen through
photosynthesis.
3. When the leaves were exposed with light what was happening to the CO2 and O2 levels? What
cellular process or processes were occurring in leaves? Explain.

The O2 levels were increasing and the CO2 levels were decreasing. The O2 declined at first, but
then increased quickly. The CO2 levels steadily decreased. When the O2 levels decreased in the
beginning, this is because the plant cells hadnt started photosynthesizing yet. The rate of
photosynthesis depends on multiple things, including light. Since the spinach leaves were
covered by foil, it took a few minutes for the plant cells to start photosynthesizing. Once the
plant cells started photosynthesizing, CO2 was being taken in by the plant and O2 was being
released. The plant was still going through respiration simultaneously, however the CO2 being
produced was also being taken in for photosynthesis.

4. Find the line of best fit for both of your light graphs (make sure to record equation). Does this
support your answer in number 3. Why or why not?
The line of best fit for CO2 in the light is y = -0.0179x + 0.40
The line of best fit for the O2 in the dark is y = 0.260x + 208
This does make sense because it supports the process of photosynthesis. With the light present,
the plant will begin using the CO2 to make oxygen during photosynthesis. Therefore, the
amount of CO2 will begin to decrease while the amount of oxygen will greatly increase because
it is now being made by the plant.
5. Compare and contrast all four of your linear equations. What patterns do you notice? Are there
any similarities you notice between any of your lines? Why does this make sense when
considering photosynthesis and respiration?
I noticed that two of my equations have negative slopes while two of my equations have positive
slopes. When comparing the two CO2 graphs, the slopes are pretty opposite and this is because
in darkness respiration is happening, while in light photosynthesis is happening. When
comparing the two O2 graphs, the slopes are opposite in their direction, but the light slope is
much steeper because the rate of the amount of oxygen during photosynthesis is quicker.
6. Using your line of best fit, predict the amount of oxygen there would be during the day after 2
hours.
Using equation for amount of oxygen in the light: y = 0.260x + 208
2 hours = 120 minutes
y = 0.260 (120) + 208 = 31.2 + 208 = 239.2 ppt
7. Why would a plant (like the spinach leaf) need to go through respiration? (Try and support your
answer with what you learned in the lab) Plant needs CO2 and water, both of which are released

into the air during respiration. Respiration is required to obtain energy from glucose. A plant
cannot use energy directly from the sun so cellular respiration is required to make ATP. Plants
create glucose from the energy from the sun, then break it down again to make ATP.

8. Why do animals only go through respiration (and not photosynthesis)? (Try and support your
answer with what you learned in the lab) Animals do not have chloroplasts like plants, they only
have mitochondria, while plants have both. Also, animals get their energy/food by eating not
from the sun. Our spinach leaves could only get energy when we took the foil off them.