question 5 asks how did the KOH affect the water movement in the respirometer. Does anyone know the answer cuz i drew a blank on that one.

To answer the question of how KOH (potassium hydroxide) affects water movement in a respirometer, we need to understand the purpose of KOH in this experiment.

In a respirometer, the movement of water is affected by the gases being produced during respiration. As organisms respire and produce carbon dioxide, the volume of the gases inside the respirometer changes, causing water to move in or out of the respirometer.

KOH is used in a respirometer to absorb carbon dioxide. When the carbon dioxide produced by respiration enters the chamber of the respirometer, it reacts with the KOH to form potassium carbonate (K2CO3) and water (H2O). This reaction effectively removes carbon dioxide from the chamber, preventing it from accumulating and allowing respiration to continue.

By absorbing the carbon dioxide, the KOH helps maintain a relatively constant volume of gas inside the respirometer, allowing for accurate measurement of the changes in gas volume caused by respiration. This means that the movement of water in the respirometer will primarily be influenced by the oxygen consumption of the organism being tested, rather than the accumulation of carbon dioxide.

Therefore, the presence of KOH in the respirometer will not have a direct effect on water movement. Instead, it acts as a necessary component to maintain the integrity of the experiment by absorbing the carbon dioxide released during respiration.

The presence of KOH (potassium hydroxide) in the respirometer affects the water movement by absorbing the carbon dioxide produced during respiration. When an organism undergoes respiration, it produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. This CO2 can dissolve into water, forming carbonic acid and increasing the concentration of dissolved CO2.

By including KOH in the respirometer, it serves as a carbon dioxide absorbent. The KOH reacts with carbon dioxide to form potassium carbonate, effectively removing the CO2 from the system. This absorption of carbon dioxide by KOH causes a decrease in the concentration of dissolved CO2 in the respirometer, which in turn reduces the water movement as there is less pressure created by the dissolved gas. Consequently, the decrease in water movement indicates the rate of respiration occurring within the organism being studied.