How Do You Use Elodea Plants To Teach Photosynthesis?
The common water plant elodea (Elodea canadensis) is frequently used in a classroom setting to allow biology students to observe the process of photosynthesis. There are a number of ways to conduct lab experiments testing the effects of light and darkness on photosynthesis, and some require more sophisticated equipment than others. One way of conducting an elodea photosynthesis lab requires very little equipment and is suitable for teaching photosynthesis at the 9th grade level. While the steps below are written for a single student, the activity is equally suited for a small team of students. Have your student put on safety goggles and stress the importance of wearing goggles when handling any chemicals. Next have him measure 40 millilitersl of aged water and pour it into one of the test tubes. Have the student use an eyedropper to add 100 drops of bromothymol blue (BTB) to the test tube. Explain that BTB is an indicator of the presence of carbon dioxide. Instruct your student to mix
