Gabriel Fierro

Period 1
10-07-15
Cellular Respiration Lab

Introduction
The intended problem and goal of the experiment is to collect data on
the respiration rate of germinating and non germinating mung beans. In
order to do this, a control of solely glass beads will also be used to
determine the rate. The respirometers will be placed in room temperature
water to buffer temperature change. If temperature change was to occur, a
rise would create a higher rate and a decrease would cause a lower rate. If
the water is too hot, i.e. boiling water, the peas would eventually die. The
hypothesis of the experiment is that the germinating mung beans will have
a greater respiration rate than the non germinating mung beans.

Materials and Methods

Materials:

Glass Beads
Absorbent Cotton
Non-Absorbent Cotton
Respirometer
Plastic Container
Tape
Water
KOH (Potassium Hydroxide)
Thermometer
Germinating Mung Beans
Non-Germinating Mung Beans

Methods:
1. Get glass vial.
2. Insert absorbent cotton.
3. Saturate cotton with Potassium Hydroxide.
4. Next, insert Non-Absorbent Cotton on top of KOH
saturated cotton.

5. Repeat steps for 3 vials (total).

In a separate beaker
1. Fill graduated cylinder with 6 mL of water.
2. Insert 34 germinating mung beans. (This will bring
the water level to 10 mL).
3. Drain the water and take the germinating mung
beans and insert into 1 of the vials.
4. After drying the graduated cylinder, fill with water to
6 mL again.
5. Insert 34 non germinating beans.
6. Add glass beads to bring the water level to 10 mL.
7. Drain the water and insert into the 2nd vial.
8. Dry the graduated cylinder and fill with water to 6
mL again.
9. Add glass beads (be sure to count how many) until
the water level reaches 10 mL.
10.
Insert into the 3rd vial.
11.
Seal all three vials with the capillary and
rubber stopper.
12.
Fill a plastic container with room temperature
water.
13.
To acclimate the vials, lay a piece of tape
across the container. Let them sit (on the tape) in the water for
5 minutes.
14.
After the 5 minutes is up, submerge entire
respirometer.
15.
Check respiration every 5 minutes and record
findings (respiration rate and the temperature of water).

Results and Calculations

Qualitative observations: Other than the obvious movement of an air
bubble, there were no other qualitative observations that could be
recorded.

Calculations:
(For Figures 1-3)
Change in Fluid Position = Previous Fluid Position - New Fluid Position

Germinating: In 25 minutes, respiration was a total of -.31mL.

Non Germinating: In 25 minutes, respiration was a total of -.02mL.
Glass Beads: In 25 minutes, respiration was a total of 0.0mL.
Discussion
The hypothesis for the experiment was that the germinating mung
beans would respire more than the non germinating mung beans. The
hypothesis was supported, as seen when comparing figures 1 - 3. The
controlled variables included water temperature and time. The independent
variables observed in the experiment included the respiration rate relative
to the beans. Some possible factors that could produce errors in the
experiment include wrong time calculation.