The Glass Laboratory

On the 5th of March, 2018 we went to the ‘Campus Berlin Buch’ as part of our biology class and conducted experiments on photosynthesis.

Our class was divided into two groups who conducted different experiments. Every student received and examined differing cross-sections of leaves. We found out about the adaptations of leaves to differing abiotic factors.

In other experiments we examined how to increase the rate of photosynthesis. For this we manipulated the light, temperature and concentration of carbon dioxide and measured the production of oxygen.

In the last experiment we extracted and separated the pigments of leaves with the help of thin-layer chromatography. It became clear that green leaves have got many pigments, not only green, but also yellow and even orange pigments. As a question for furthers studies we asked what function the different pigments have in the process of photosynthesis.

The experiments in a real laboratory were a lot of fun. Especially using professional pipettes was interesting because you can measure the tiniest amounts of liquids with it. In June we will visit the laboratory again, but then the topic will be ‘Blood and Drugs’.