Why through photosynthesis we mustn't put sodium or potassium hydroxide?? (an experiment for testing the carbon dioxide if it is important for the starch formation)
In photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen using sunlight. The process of photosynthesis is crucial for plant growth and the production of oxygen in the atmosphere.
Now, let me explain why we mustn't put sodium or potassium hydroxide in an experiment that tests the importance of carbon dioxide for starch formation during photosynthesis.
In this experiment, sodium or potassium hydroxide is used to remove carbon dioxide from the surrounding air. By doing so, it creates an environment with limited carbon dioxide available for the plant to carry out photosynthesis. This reduced carbon dioxide level is intended to investigate the role of carbon dioxide in starch formation.
If we were to add sodium or potassium hydroxide, it would react with carbon dioxide and remove it from the surrounding air. However, it also results in an increase in alkalinity (basicness) of the solution. This high alkaline environment can disrupt the pH balance inside the leaf, affecting the activity of enzymes involved in photosynthesis. As a result, it can interfere with the normal function of photosynthesis, reducing or even preventing starch formation.
To ensure accurate results in this experiment, it's important to not add sodium or potassium hydroxide, as it can introduce additional variables that can interfere with the desired outcome, which is to test the importance of carbon dioxide in starch formation during photosynthesis.