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The Effect Of Energy Absorption On A Spinach Leaf

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Background During photosynthesis plants use the suns energy to form chemical bonds on carbohydrates. The formula for photosynthesis is 6CO2 +6H2O + 686 kilocalories C6H12O6 + 6O2. The carbon comes from the atmosphere and the water (H2O) comes from what the tree is able to absorb from the soil. The light in the equation comes from the sun. This is able to be absorbed by different pigments in the plants leaf. The pigments are stored in organelles called chloroplasts; these organelles are what is responsible for photosynthesis. There are may different pigments in each leaf. In this experiment we determine what wavelength of light is optimum for energy absorption in a spinach leaf. I believe that the violet light will be optimum because is is a wavelength absorbed by the leaf and its wavelength contains the most energy.

Materials and Methods This experiment will will need several materials. Materials include: spectrophotometer, spinach leaf, chromatography paper, coin, and a test tube containing containing chromatography solvent, cuvette, and water. To preform the experiment, the following instructions will need to be preformed:
• Get a strip of chromatography paper cut in a strip that will fit in a test tube. Draw a line 2cm from the bottom, this line must be drawn in pencil. Ensure you are handling the paper by its edges to prevent oil from finders from contaminating the paper.
• Get a spinach leaf to obtain pigments from. Set the chromatography paper on top of

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