3 A student carried out an investigation to find the effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate

of photosynthesis of an aquatic plant.

The apparatus that the student used is shown in Fig. 2.1. The student was advised to use a light
meter positioned at the same distance from the lamp as the pond plant. The student counted the
number of bubbles produced by the cut end of the stem.

dilute sodium
hydrogencarbonate
solution
thermometer
movable lamp

stop watch

water-bath
pond plant
0 15
ruler cm

Fig. 2.1

(a) Explain why the student included the following in the apparatus.

(i) The beaker of water and the thermometer.

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(ii) The light meter and the ruler.

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 (b) The results obtained by the student are shown in Fig. 2.2.

25

Y
20
rate of
photosynthesis 15
/ number of
bubbles X
10
per minute
5

0
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50
carbon dioxide concentration / %

Fig. 2.2

(i) Describe the student’s results.

You will gain credit if you use data from Fig. 2.2 in your answer.

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(ii) State the factor that is limiting the rate of photosynthesis in region X of the graph.

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 (iii) Suggest and explain the reasons for the shape of the graph in region Y.

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(c) Counting bubbles may not be the best way to measure the rate of photosynthesis. The volume
of the bubbles is not always exactly the same.

Suggest and explain one alternative way of measuring the gas given off to solve this problem.

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 (d) Fig. 2.3 shows the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere as determined at Mauna
Loa in Hawaii between 1959 and 2013.

400 range of
values

380

concentration
of carbon 360
dioxide in the mean value
atmosphere
/ parts per 340
million

320

300
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
year

Fig. 2.3

(i) Explain why the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased between 1959 and 2013.

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