photosynthesis lab

[Monique Reed]

Back during the Carboniferous when I had plant physiology, I remember
being impressed with the chlorophyll extraction lab.  We used some
ungodly organic solvents (including ether--wheeee!) to extract
chlorophyll from spinach.  Then we put a cuvette-ful into a
spectrophotometer to look at where the light absorbtion peaks were.
Sure enough, red and blue!

M. Reed

Beverly Brown wrote:
> 
> Does anyone have a photosynthesis lab of which they are particularly
> proud?  We have two labs, one for non-majors and one for majors.  They
> include variations on watching spinach disks rise in varying light
> intensities, varying wavelength intensities, and the old Coleus leaf,
> boiled, with iodine, etc.  This series of experiments is prone to great
> failure and we would like to revamp it entirely!
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Beverlyl
> 
> --
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> 
> Beverly J. Brown, Ph.D.                Phone:  716-389-2555
> Nazareth College of Rochester       Fax:      716-586-2452
> Biology Department                      E-mail: bjbrown at naz.edu
> 4245 East Avenue
> Rochester, NY 14618-3790
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> 
> ---