``Know the X-istence, Gain the Knowledge`` =)
Hey, This is our group blog on science stuffs. Feel free to x-plore more ahead! :) Our group consists of Jilian, Elizabeth, Junyong, Xiaxue, Gideon and we're from JWSS, class 2E1:) Lastly, remember to follow us as we update you with more interesting science facts! :D
Monday, August 23, 2010
A plant that receives the nutrition needs will continue to live. But what if we took all its oxygen away. Do you think the plant can grow? Why?
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Some Tips on cellular Respiration! ;)

As everybody know, humans all need energy to function and we get this energy from the foods we eat. The most efficient way for cells to harvest energy stored in food is through cellular respiration, a catabolic pathway for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP, a high energy molecule, is expended by working cells. Cellular respiration occurs in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. It has three main stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and electron transport
Glycolysis means "splitting sugars." Glucose, a six carbon sugar, is split into two molecules of a three carbon sugar. In the process, two molecules of ATP, two molecules of pyruvic acid and two "high energy" electron carrying molecules of NADH(reaction formed) are produced. Glycolysis can occur w/ or w/o oxygen. In the presence of oxygen, glycolysis is the first stage of cellular respiration. W/o oxygen, glycolysis allows cells to make small amounts of ATP. This process is called fermentation.
Citric Acid Cycle
The Citric Acid Cycle/Krebs Cycle begins after the two molecules of the three carbon sugar produced in glycolysis are converted to a slightly different compound (acetyl CoA). Through a series of intermediate steps, several compounds capable of storing "high energy" electrons are produced along with two ATP molecules. These compounds, known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), are reduced in the process. These reduced forms carry the "high energy" electrons to the next stage. The Citric Acid Cycle occurs only when oxygen is present but it doesn't use oxygen directly.
Sources:
http://biology.about.com/od/cellularprocesses/a/cellrespiration.htm
By: --Existence2e1--
Factors Affecting Photosynthesis :D
Our class did a few experiments on what are the factors that will affect rate of photosynthesis and so here they are:
- Amount of water
- Amount of carbon dioxide
- Music
- Spectrum of light
- Surface area of leaf
- Temperature
By: --Existence2e1-- :)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Ongoing Respiration !

Saturday, August 14, 2010
`` Experiment (Updated) ``
Aim: To find out if the amount of water affects the rate of photosynthesis.
Hypothesis: The photosynthesis rate increases as the amount of water provided increases.
Approach: Have 3 setups of hydrilla plants in each of the 3 beakers. Sunlight is kept constant for all setups. One beaker will be filled to the brim with water, One half-filled with water and one 1/4 filled with water. At the end of the experiment, we'll use the date logger to calculate the rate of photosynthesis by obtaining the amount of oxygen produced (O2)
Apparatus:
- 1 light lamp
- 3 small beakers
- 1 data logger
- 1 spectular spoon
- scotch tape
- paper
Materials:
- 3 hydrilla plants
- sodium hydrogencarbonate
- tap water
Variables:
(Constant) Water temperature, intensity of light, type of plant, amount of sodium hydrogen carbonate.
(Changing) Amount of water.
Methods/Procedures:
- Fill all 3 beakers with tap water and label them. ( 1/4 filled, one half-filled, 1 filled to the brim )
- Place 1 hydrilla plant into each beaker and ensure that all plants are fully submerged in the water
- Use a spectular spoon to put 2 spoons of sodium hydrogencarbonate into beaker 1 (1/4 filled).
- Wait for 10 minutes for the sodium hydrogencarbonate to dissolve in order for the plant to have carbon dioxide to carry out photosynthesis.
- Put scotch tape to mark down the position of the beaker placed.
- Place the oxygen testing sensor into the beaker with 1/4 filled with water.
- Put the beaker under the light lamp, within equal distance and wait for 5 minutes.
- Record the amount of oxygen produced (O2).
- Repeat steps 3 - 8 for the other 2 beakers.
Results:
Amount of oxygen produced (O2)
Beaker 1 8.3
Beaker 2 8.29
Beaker 3 8.27
Our Point Of View:
The amount of sodium hydrogencarbonate is constant throughout the whole experiment but the water level is not constant. Therefore, there is a higher sodium hydrogencarbonate in lesser water and as we all know carbon dioxide allows plant to photosynthesis better, thus the amount of oxygen produced (O2) will be higher when the water level is lesser.
The amount of sodium hydogencarbonate will affect the amount of oxygen produced (O2) as carbon dioxide can change the pH of water. This works when carbon dioxide dissolves slightly in water to form a weak acid called carbonic acid, H2CO3, according to the following reaction: CO2 + H2O --> H2CO3 . The most important thing to note is carbon dioxide is only water-soluble.
Discussion:
The hypothesis is supported. We encountered problems when the amount of sodium hydrogencarbonate placed in the beakers was not sufficient therefore resulting in the inaccurate recordings of oxygen produced (O2). We also did not fully submerge the hydrilla plant in the water thus the leftover parts of the plant did not carry out the process of photosynthesis. Last mistake that we made was that 10 minutes wasn’t sufficient for the sodium hydrogencarbonate to dissolve for the plant to have carbon dioxide to photosynthesis, so the results will also be inaccurate. The experiment could be improved if we had keep notice to time and arranged the setup correctly as well.
Conclusion:
The amount of water does affects the rate of photosynthesis.
We welcome comments on our experiment and how to improve on it as well !!~
So, please comment, comment & comment !!~ ;P
Thursday, August 12, 2010
More on Photosynthesis ;)
Hope you guys find the previous video nice & interesting!!~ :D
Once the season of the fall starts, there'll be a change of colour in the leaves. They no longer stay green but turns into the colours in the picture above. The reason is because during the fall, there isn't enough sunlight/water for photosynthesis to take place. The green chlorophyll disappears be cause there isn't the sunlight to convert to chemical energy. Therefore, allows the bright colours that have been hidden all summer by the green colour to show through.
Just for your additional information, the red colour in the leaf occurs because there is food, carbohydrates, trapped in the leaf. The leaf that has a brown colour has waste trapped in it.
This shows what is occurring in the leaf during the process of photosynthesis. Where carbon dioxide + water + chlorophyll and sunlight -----> oxygen + sugar .



