The Role of Chlorophyll in Photosynthesis

Group 1 - Lorenzo Daniel L. Antonio, Paolo Carlo Calalang, Timothy Carandang, Oneil Joshua Calderon, MHAB1

Submitted to: Maam Elena M. Ragragio Submitted: September 20, 2012 Introduction Photosynthesis is a process of producing glucose, oxygen and ATP with the use of light, carbon dioxide and water. Light is absorbed by the chloroplast. In a minor scale, light hits the chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is green pigments which are vital for photosynthesis, which allows plants to absorb energy from light.1 A variegated mayana leaf is boiled in water for 10 minutes, put into a test tube with 95% ethyl alcohol, has its pigments extracted by being placed in a hot water bath, bleached with water and applied IKI solution to see the starch.2 Hypothesis: Green areas have chlorophyll thus they undergo photosynthesis. Objectives: Identify the areas with starch (Starch is a byproduct of photosynthesis) Results Starch is present on all parts of the mayana leaf except in the leaf veins. Discussion Chlorophyll is very important to photosynthesis so the leaf spreads its chlorophyll across the leaf in order to maximize photosynthesis. It plays a big role, it drives photosynthesis which produces glucose, carbon dioxide, and ATP; all necessary to growth of plants.

References Chlorophyll, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyll Biology 21 General Botany Laboratory Manual, Committee on Biology 21 Laboratory Manual