I am a 15-year-old high school student and am working on a science project on
photosynthesis. I am trying to use a variety of plants to see which one's
chloroplasts will survive and produce oxygen outside of their hosts.
I found "photosyn at net.bio.net" while browsing the Intermet and thought that
one of your members might be be able give me valuable advice.
I have, I believe, successfully separated chloroplasts from spinach leaves
using a modified Whatley and Arnon procedure at home. For example, my bell
jar is a cheese board cover of about 1400 cm3 volume. I produced
chloroplasts from 25 g spinach leaves with a .25 mol saline solution made
from halite.
My basic problem is determining whether oxygen has been produced. I have
tried using a glowing match to see if it flared. I couldn't be sure if I was
successful. Do you have any suggestions to help me determine, at home,
whether I have successfully produced oxygen? Is there, for example, an easy
chemical test I could use? Are there any special things I should do, or not
do, to help ensure success? Any advice or suggestions for sources on the
Internet you might have would be greatly appreciated. I have access only to
a medical centrifuge and microscope (100x) where my mother works. My school
has a spectrometer I could use.
I thank you in advance for any assistance you might be able to give me.
Sincerely,
Corinne Milliken
(I am using my dad's e-mail account)
