Question

In what way the process observed in the experiment different from respiration

Answer 1

Germinating seeds are taken in a conical flask in which a container of caustic potash is also put. The mouth of this conical flask is closed by a single-holed cork through which a glass tube bent twice at right angles in inserted. The far end of this tube is put in the mercury dish. Now this apparatus is left undisturbed for some time.

expThe germinating seeds undergo aerobic respiration as they use the oxygen available inside the conical flask. As whole of the oxygen is used up by the germinating seeds, the pressure inside the flask is decreased. Hence, consequently the mercury level rises in the far end of the bent glass tube.

This level reaches only a height of 15 cm in the glass tube. As this level is about one-fifth the air. As oxygen constitutes one fifth of total composition, it is reasonable to infer that the seeds have used this gas of the air in respiration.

2. Experiment to demonstrate the energy is production in the form of heat during the respiration:

Requirements:

Thermos bottle (2), cork, thermometer (2), 50 germinating seeds, 50 dry seeds.

Method:

1. Take two thermos bottles fitted with a uni-holed cork.

2. In one thermos fill about 50 germinating seeds and in the other fill about 50 dry seeds.