Investigating the factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis of submerged cotyledon (seed leaf) discs

Introduction: Photosynthesis is the trapping of carbon dioxide and its subsequent reduction to carbohydrate, using hydrogen from water. Hexose sugars and starch are commonly formed so the following equation is often used: light energy 6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2 carbon dioxide water chlorophyll carbohydrate oxygen Photosynthesis consists of two stages: These are the light-dependent reactions, for which light energy is necessary, and the light independent reactions series of light-dependent reactions that are …

…producing more oxygen meant that they would rise faster. Oxygen being a by-product of photosynthesis can be used to get a picture of the rate of photosynthesis of a plant. So ideally an experiment carried out measure the amount of this oxygen production would be better designed to get an indication of the rate of photosynthesis of a plant. The oxygen collection would take place in water; a water bath could be used for example.