Question

The diagram below shows two test-tubes A and B. Test-tube A contains a green water plant. Test-tube B contains both a green water plant and a snail. Both test-tubes are kept in sunlight. Answer the questions that follow: 

(a) Name the physiological process that releases the bubbles of oxygen.

(b) Explain the physiological process as mentioned above in (a).

(c) What is the purpose of keeping a snail in test-tube B?

(d) Why does test-tube B have more bubbles of oxygen?

(e) Give an example of a water plant that can be used in the above experiment.

(f) Write the overall chemical equation for the above process.

Answer 1

(a) Photosynthesis releases bubbles of oxygen.

(b) Photosynthesis is a physiological process by which plant cells containing chlorophyll produce food in the form of carbohydrates by using carbon dioxide, water and light energy. Oxygen is released as a by-product.

(c) Carbon dioxide released by the snail during respiration is used by the plant for photosynthesis. This increases the rate of photosynthesis in the plant placed in test tube B. This also suggests that both respiration and photosynthesis are complementary processes to maintain the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

(d) A plant and a snail are kept in test tube B. The plant in test tube B has more concentration of CO₂ available because the snail releases CO₂ during respiration. This increases the rate of photosynthesis in the plant placed in test tube B which leads to the release of more amount of oxygen.

(e) Hydrilla 

(f) Chemical equation for photosynthesis:

\[\ce {6CO_2  + 12H_2O ->[Light energy][Chlorophyll] C_6H_12O_6 + 6H_2O + 6O_2 ↑ }\]