Since you have heard the story let me tell you the prats and the way of carnivores plants scientifically.
Carnivorous plants are simply plants that obtain – in part or whole – the nutrients they require by way of ensnaring then digesting insects.
There are five carnivorous plant families that have evolved in a way that allows them to attract and trap various species of insects - though there are now around 630 variations that grow natively around the world.
Carnivourous Plants
Snap Traps: they use a swift leaf closing mechanism.
Flypaper Traps: these produce a sticky substance on the leaf surface.
Pitfall Traps: use a tubular type leaf with a small amount of digestive enzyme in the base.
Lobster Pot Traps: small chamber-like leaves – that are difficult to exit therefore encourages the prey forwards
Bladder Traps: suck prey in by way of using a bladder
Let me show you a video to better understand the cruelty of this plants
They lure insects into death traps, then gorge on their flesh. Is that any way for a plant to behave?
Drawn by what seems like the scent of nectar from a flowerlike patch of scarlet on the ground, the fly lands on the fleshy pad of a ruddy leaf. It takes a sip of the sweet liquid oozing from the leaf, brushing a leg against one tiny hair on its surface, then another. Suddenly the fly's world has walls around it. The two sides of the leaf are closing against each other, spines along its edges interlocking like the teeth of a jaw trap. As the fly struggles to escape, the trap squeezes shut. Now, instead of offering sweet nectar, the leaf unleashes enzymes that eat away at the fly's innards, gradually turning them into goo. The fly has suffered the ultimate indignity for an animal: It has been killed by a plant.
Photosynthesis is means that primary producers can obtain energy via light energy. The energy gained FROM light can be used in various processes mentioned below for the creation of energy that the plant will need to survive and grow.
Photosynthesis is a reduction process, where hydrogen is reduced by a coenzyme. This is in contrast to respiration where glucose is oxidised.
The process is split INTO two DISTINCT areas, Photolysis (the photochemical stage) and the Calvin cycle (the thermochemical stage).
CO2 + H2O > glucose + oxygen
Photolysis
This part of photosynthesis occurs in the granum of a chloroplast where light is absorbed by chloroplast ; a type of photosynthetic pigment that converts the light to chemical energy. This reacts with water (H2O) and splits the oxygen and hydrogen molecules apart.
From this dissection of water, the oxygen is released as a by-product while the reduced hydrogen acceptor makes its way to the second stage of photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle.
Overall, since the water is oxidised (hydrogen is removed) and energy is gained in photolysis which is required in the Calvin cycle
We realised that we didnt actually explain what is photosynthesis. So let me explain it to you.
Photosynthesis is the single most important chemical process on earth. It is the process by which plants use solar energy to manufacture food. The term means “putting together with light,” and the process of photosynthesis uses solar energy to form simple sugars from water and carbon dioxide gas. Later these sugars are converted into starch, protein, or fat; and we eat them as fruits and vegetables. Thus photosynthesis changes light energy into food (chemical) energy. Photosynthesis sustains green plants and as a result all other living things as well. Both directly and indirectly green plants generate most of the world’s chemical energy. Wood and fossil fuels — coal, oil and natural gas formed from plants and animals that lived mil- lions of years ago — provide much of our electricity and heat. Green plants are the source of gasoline that we use to power buses and cars. Fresh fruits, vegetables and grain, as well as meat from animals that eat plants, give us the energy to work and play and think. All of this energy originally came from the sun, and it is available to us only as a result of photosynthesis. People have dreamed of duplicating this process, and biochemists are still trying to unravel its complexities. They know that it involves a sequence of chemical relirelised- es that takes place in a millionth of a second. They also know that most chlorophyll mol- ecules and certain plant pigments act as antennas which receive and absorb solar energy, then transmit it to a pair of very special chlorophyll molecules that convert it to chemical energy. When the chemical dynamics of this process are finally understood, people will be closer to the extraordinary goal of converting sunlight directly to chemical energy. Until that goal is achieved, we remain totally dependent on green plants for life.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Aerobic respiration is the release of energy from the glucose or another organic substrate in the presence of oxygen. Strictly speaking aerobic means air, but it is the oxygen which is necessary for aerobic respiration.
Here is glucose molecule. A glucose = carbon + hydrogen +oxygen
This is a much more accurate formula :
Glucose + Oxygen = Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy
You should be able to see six carbon atoms on each side of the equation; One molecule of glucose contains six atoms of Carbon and six molecules of Carbon Dioxide each contain one atom of Carbon.
You should also be able to see that the Hydrogen is balanced. One molecule of Glucose contains twelve atoms of Hydrogen and six molecules of water each contain two atoms of Oxygen.
Now look at the Oxygen. To make six molecules of Carbon Dioxide we need twelve atoms of Oxygen and to make six molecules of water we need another six atoms of Oxygen. That makes a total of eighteen atoms of Oxygen. The glucose already contains six atoms of Oxygen so the cell will need a further six molecules of Oxygen from the air.
Aerobic respiration takes place in almost all living things. It is easy to get rid of the Carbon Dioxide and excess water; this is excretion (the removal of the toxic waste products of metabolism), and maximum energy is released from the glucose.
Here's a interesting video glucose song to help you memorize better
In plant and animal cells, a process in which energy is released from food molecules such as glucose without requiring oxygen. Some aerobic plants and animals are able to use anaerobic respiration for short periods of time. For example, during a sprint, human muscles can respire anaerobically. Unfortunately, lactic acid is produced and accumulates until the muscles cannot continue working. Anaerobic respiration in humans is less efficient than aerobic respiration at releasing energy, but releases energy faster . This explains why humans can run faster in a sprint than over longer distances. When humans stop after a sprint, they have to continue breathing more heavily for a while. This is to take in ‘extra’ oxygen in order to break down the accumulated lactic acid on top of the ‘normal’ breakdown of sugar in aerobic respiration. The body is paying back the oxygen debt built up during the sprint.
Use of anaerobic respiration in industry In plants, yeasts, and bacteria, anaerobic respiration results in the production of alcohol and carbon dioxide, a process that is exploited by both the brewing and the baking industries .
Origins of anaerobic respiration Although anaerobic respiration is a primitive and inefficient form of energy release, deriving from the period when oxygen was missing from the atmosphere, it can also be seen as an adaption. To survive in some habitats, such as the muddy bottom of a polluted river, an organism must be to a large extent independent of oxygen; such habitats are said to beanoxic.
Our opinion :We have learnt that plants have a very unique way of making their own food, surviving and depending on themselves. We have learnt many methods of proving that all plants indeed photosynthesis and respire. We also figure out that photosynthesis is affected by temperature, light intensity,colour and carbondioxide and lastly the presence of light. Without any of this reactants photosynthesis will cease to occur endangering a plants life.
Better theory : Plants can indeed photosynthesis without the "green pigments ". But actually they are just "hidden" from our eyes. From the above, We can conclude that plants photosynthesize and respire in different ways but end up with the same subject. Plants stored the excess glucose and convert them into starch to be used for rainy days. Starch can be kept in fruits,stems or even the roots. Hence, I can conclude that plants are important in the ecosystem
This is what our teacher taught us a few days back.
we all know chlorophyll creates food for the plant as there are chloroplasts in them. let me show you a experiment to prove it.
Aim : To investigate the type of food stored in a green leaf.
Hypothesis : I will use iodine to test if the leaf has starch in it. As iodine turns from brown to blue when it comes in contact will starch, it is the best candidate to test for starch in a leaf.
Theory : Leaf has chloroplasts in them hence, starch will be created as when leaf undergo photosynthesis, they produce oxygen and glucose. The excess glucose is converted to starch which is stored in flowers or fruits. EG. A potato, strawberry.
Materials : A beaker, water, leaf, bunsen burner, alcohol( denatured ethanol ), gauze mat, tripod, test tube.
Steps :
1) Firstly boil the leaf in a beaker of water for about 5 minutes
2) Set up the apparatus as shown above. (methylated spirits also know as alcohol )
3) Boil the leaf for about 10 minutes
* After this stage the leaf will be very brittle so carefully remove the leaf from the beaker to avoid breaking the leaf
4) Dip the leaf in a beaker of hot water to soften the the dehydrated leaf.
5)Next add a few drops of iodine on the leaf
Results : The iodine turned from dark brown to blue.
Our opinion : The results show that when a plants photosynthesize the produce starch.
Further explanation : This is because starch is composed of polymers of glucose. Long linear chains are amylose. Amylopectin is similar but contains a branch point about every 25th glucose or so. Amylose coils into a helical secondary structure resembling a tube with a hollow core. Certain molecules including fatty acids and iodine can lodge inside the core as already mentioned. The complex of iodine stuck inside the amylose coil produces a characteristic blue-black colour. The starch itself is not altered. Starch-iodine complex becomes unstable at temperatures above 35 °C. This complex in presence of an oxidizing agent the solution turns blue, in the presence of reducing agent, the blue color disappears because trioxide ions break up into three iodide ions, disassembling the complex. So starch turns into glucose molecules. Therefore the blue black colour disappears. However, when it cools down again, then the glucose macromolecules bonded up together again in a long chain, becoming starch. That is why it tested positive for starch and turns back into blue-black colour. Hence i can conclude that iodine change colours when it come in contact with starch.
Better Theory : One of the product of photosynthesis is Starch.When the iodine comes in contact with the leaf the iodine turns blue as the starch is reacting with the iodine.
Our opinion :The content inside the leaf is starch.
Conclusion :
My hypothesis was confirmed. I concluded this as when my teacher taught us how to do the experiment i checked the results of my friends and all of them have the same result.
Overall : My results generalize that leafs do produce starch.
Firstly I will show you guys a picture as this may be a little hard to understand without the diagram.
Aim : To investigate whether plants undergo respiration.
Hypothesis : I will observe that the limewater will turn chalky after a period of time. As when limewater comes in contact with carbon dioxide it will turn chalky. One of the products of the process respiration consists of carbon dioxide. So, if the limewater turns chalky i will immediately know that plants do indeed photosynthesize.
Theory : Plants photosynthesize in the day while they respire in the night as the presence of light is absent. So if there is no sunlight no photosynthesis will occur.
Materials: bell jar, a potted plant , a boiling tube, limewater, and a cork, a roll of scotchtape.
Steps
1)Firstly find a area where there is no sunlight, however ensure there is some light so you will be able to see.
2)Put a bell jar over the plant.
3) Scotchtape the boiling to the side of the brim of the bell jar leaving some space at the top.
4)Pour in some limewater into the boiling tube.
5) Seal the whole bell jar will a crake at the brim
Results :
1min- The limewater remain clear
2min- The limewater start to turn blurry
3min- The limewater becomes cloudy
Our opinion : The results have indeed shown us that the plant undergo the process respiration as the limewater turn chalky
Further explanation :While limewater is a clear solution, milk of lime on the other hand is a suspension of calcium hydroxide particles in water. These particles give it the milky aspect. It is commonly produced by reacting quicklime with an excess of water - usually 4 to 8 times the amount of water to the amount of quicklime.The calcium oxide will convert to the hydroxide according to the following reaction scheme. Sometimes the reaction is so much that it can cause temperature which water could boil.
The formula is shown below to explain in deeper to the experiment.
CaO + H2O → Ca(OH)2
My findings : There were certain errors which could not be avoided as they were essential to the success of the experiment. One of the errors was the light. As we on the light to observe the plant, the plant is also converting the light energy to glucose and oxygen. Hence, our result may not be as accurate.
Better theory : One method is that you can paint the bell jar black. But by doing that we were not able to observe how the limewater turns chalky overtime.
Conclusion : My hypothesis was confirmed. I did not only just use one plant to do the experiment. I used the same kind of plant and all of them show the same result.
Overall : My results generalizes that respiration in plants give out carbondioxide.
Further explanation : I will show you a video and it will surely give you a deeper understanding .
