Photosynthesis LabPurpose:The purpose of this investigation is study is to determine if reactants such as, light, carbon dioxide or chlorophyll, are essential for photosynthesis to take place. This will be determined through the iodine test, the presence of starch can be determined within the leaves of a geranium plant, variegated plant, and two plants with and without carbon dioxide to find out whether or not photosynthesis is taking place.Hypothesis:If plants make their own food by combining carbon dioxide gathered from the air with water obtained through the soil, and with sunlight obtained from chlorophyll then the presence of all three reactants is vital to produce its own food as photosynthesis will not work if even one reactant is absent and the plant will be unable to sustain life. The iodine test changes the colour of the leaf to dark blue only if starch is present, and if a reactant is missing, then glucose cannot be produced and then be converted to starch for the rest of the plant, resulting in no change in colour after the iodine test.Materials:Test tube rackTwo Lamps (light)Paper cut-outTongTwo petri dishesDropper 500 mL beaker & hotGeranium Plant 50 grams of soda limeplate (hot water bath)Variegated plant Dish with 50 Test tube of alcoholPlant with availablegrams of sodium 500 mL beaker withcarbon dioxidehydrogen carbonatecover Plant with no available Two clear plastic bagsLugols Iodine solutioncarbon dioxide
