Title: To Investigate the Factors Necessary for Germination
Date:
Apparatus: 4 Test tubes; Cotton wool; Cress seeds; Water; Test tube rack; Cool boiled water; Oil; Refrigerator
Method:
1. Place cotton wool in each of four test tubes and label A, B, C and D.
2. Place 10-12 seeds on top of the cotton wool in each of the test tubes.
3. Set up each of the test tubes as follows:
A: Leave the cotton wool dry (without water)
B: Moisten the cotton wool and place the test tube in the refrigerator (without the correct temperature)
C: Cover the seeds and cotton wool with a layer of cool boiled water. Pour a thin layer of oil over the water (without
oxygen)
D: Moisten the cotton wool (water + oxygen + correct temperature)
4. Place test tubes A, C and D in a warm room and leave for 3 – 4 days.
5. Record which seeds germinated.
Results:
Test Tube / GerminationA (without water)
B (without correct temperature)
C (without oxygen)
D (control)
Title: To Demonstrate Hypogeal and Epigeal Germination.
Date:
Apparatus: 2 Large beakers; Soil; 4 Broad bean seeds; 4 Sunflower seeds; Filter paper; Water
Apparatus:
1. Line two large beakers with filter paper.
2. Fill inside the filter paper in each beaker with soil.
3. In one of the beakers, place 4 broad bean seeds between the filter paper and the beaker – so that they are visible through
the side of the beaker.
4. In the second beaker place four sunflower seeds between the filter paper and the glass.
5. Water the soil in each beaker and leave the two beakers in a warm room for one week.
6. Observe the seeds throughout the week and note any differences in the germination in the seeds.
Observations:
Title: To Demonstrate Phototropism
Date:
Apparatus: Divided box; 3 Petri dishes; Cotton Wool; Cress seeds; Water
Method:
1. Label three petri dishes A, B and C.
2. Into each dish place some moist cotton wool.
3. Add 10-15 cress seeds to each petri dish.
4. Place petri dish A into the first compartment of the box – with a window at the side.
5. Place petri dish B into the second compartment of the box – with a window on the top.
6. Place petri dish C in to the third compartment of the box – with no windows.
7. Leave the box in a warm room for 5-7 days.
8. Observe and record the results.
Observations:
Title: To Demonstrate Geotropism (Clinostat)
Date:
Apparatus: Clinostat; 4 soaked broad bean seeds with straight radicles; pins; cotton wool.
Method:
1. Place a pad of moist cotton wool on the cork disc of the clinostat.
2. Pin the four soaked bean seeds onto the disc.
3. Switch on the motor of the clinostat and leave the clinostat in the dark for 2-3 days.
4. Record the observations.
5. The experiment should be repeated without rotating the disc.
6. The results of both experiments should be compared.
Observations and Results:
Title: To Show that Oxygen is Released During Photosynthesis
Date:
Apparatus:Elodea (pond weed); Pond Water; Funnel; Test tube; Plasticine; Beaker; Lamp; Sodium bicarbonate
Method:
1. Fill the beaker with pond water and place some pond weed in the bottom of the beaker.
2. Place an inverted funnel over the pond weed and secure it in place with some Plasticine.
3. Place a test tube over the funnel as shown in the diagram, making sure that the funnel and test tube are completely filled
with water.
4. Add some sodium bicarbonate to the water – this will release carbon dioxide into the water.
5. Place the lamp close to the beaker and switch it on and leave the apparatus for 3-4 days.
6. When all of the water has been pushed out of the test tube, test the gas collected using a glowing splint.
7. If the glowing splint re-lights, the gas present is oxygen.
Results:
Title: To Test a Leaf for Starch
Date:
Apparatus: Leaf; Boiling water bath; Beaker; Warm water bath; Warm Alcohol; White tile; Iodine; Dropper; Forceps
Method:
1. Remove a leaf from a plant.
2. Place the leaf in the boiling water bath for several minutes – this kills the leaf.
3. Remove the leaf from the boiling water bath and place it in a beaker of warm alcohol – this removes the alcohol (the leaf
appears a creamy white colour when removed, but is also very brittle)
4. Remove the leaf from the warm alcohol and place into a warm water bath – this softens the leaf.
5. Remove the leaf from the warm water bath and place it on a white tile.
6. Using a dropper, add 2-3 drops of iodine to the leaf and observe any colour changes that occur.
Note: Iodine is a brown/orange colour that will turn blue-black in the presence of starch.
Results:
Title: To show that Light is Necessary for Photosynthesis
Date:
Apparatus: Potted plant; Tin foil; Lamp; Leaf; Boiling water bath; Beaker; Warm water bath; Warm Alcohol; White tile;
Iodine; Dropper; Forceps
Method:
1. Place a potted plant in the dark for 48 hours to de-starch it.
2. Cover some of the leaves with a layer of tinfoil.
3. Place the plant close to the lamp and switch the lamp on.
4. Leave the plant to photosynthesise for up to 6 hours.
5. Remove some of the leaves from the plant and test the leaves for starch.
6. Draw a diagram of the leaves showing the areas containing starch.
Results:
Title: To show that Chlorophyll is Necessary for Photosynthesis.
Date:
Apparatus: Variegated pot plant; Leaf; Boiling water bath; Beaker; Warm water bath; Warm Alcohol; White tile; Iodine;
Dropper; Forceps
Method:
1. De-starch a potted plant by placing it in the dark for 48 hours.
2. Place the plant close to the lamp and switch on the lamp.
3. Leave the plant to photosynthesise for up to six hours.
4. Remove some of the leaves from the plant and test for the presence of starch.
5. Draw a diagram of the leaves showing the areas containing starch.
Results:
Title: To Demonstrate Osmosis (Visking Tubing)
Date:
Apparatus: 80% Sucrose solution; Distilled water; Visking tubing; Large Beaker
Method:
1. Soak a length of visking tubing until it is soft.
2. Tie a knot in one end of the visking tubing.
3. Half fill the visking tubing with the 80% sucrose solution.
4. Tie a knot at the other end of the visking tubing.
5. Rinse the outside of the sealed visking tubing with distilled water, dry it and weigh it.
6. Record the initial mass of the visking tubing.
7. Immerse the visking tubing in a large beaker of distilled water and leave for 24 hours.
8. After 24 hours, remove the visking tubing from the beaker and record any observations.
9. Dry the visking tubing and reweigh.
10. Record the final mass of the visking tubing.
Observations:
Results:
Initial Mass-______g
Final Mass-______g
Change in Mass-______g
Title: To Demonstrate Osmosis (Potato)
Date:
Apparatus: Potato; Knife; Salt; Petri dish; Water
Method:
1. Cut a potato in half.
2. Place the cut end facing downwards in a petri dish of water.
3. Scoop out a hollow in the top of the potato.
4. Fill the hollow with salt.
5. Leave the potato for 24 hours and record any changes.
Results:
Title: To Show the Action of a Semi-Permeable Membrane
Date:
Apparatus: Visking Tubing; Starch Solution; Iodine; Water; Large Beaker
Method:
1. Soften a length of visking tubing by placing it in distilled water.
2. Tie a knot at one end of the visking tubing.
3. Half fill the visking tubing with the starch solution.
4. Tie a knot at the other end of the visking tubing.
5. Immerse the visking tubing into a beaker of distilled water and iodine.
6. Leave the visking tubing for up to an hour.
7. Observe and record any changes.
Results:
Title: To Show Transpiration in Plants
Date:
Apparatus: Potometer; Cutting taken from a herbaceous stem; Water; Vaseline;
Method:
1. Take a cutting from a leafy herbaceous stem.
2. Holding the stem under water (prevents air from getting into the xylem), cut the stem at an angle (exposes a greater area
of xylem).
3. Insert the cutting into the rubber stopper of the potometer and seal with Vaseline (this prevents air from getting into the
system).
4. Remove the potometer from the water and leave for an hour.
5. After an hour, place the end of the potometer tube into a beaker of water – this will trap and air bubble in the potometer.
6. Record the position of the air bubble.
7. Place the potometer beside an open window for up to 6 hours.
8. Record the position of the air bubble.
9. Repeat the procedure by placing the potometer in different conditions (humidity; temperature; wind levels etc)
10. The control used is an atmometer – this has the same basic structure as the potometer, but instead of a cutting, it
contains a porous pot.
Results:
Title: Test for Starch
Date:
Apparatus: 2 Test tubes; Test tube rack; Dropper; Water; Starch solution; Iodine.
Method:
1. Label two test tubes A and B.
2. Into tube A, place 2ml of the starch solution.
3. Into tube B, place 2ml of water.
4. Add 2-3 drops of iodine into each test tube and swirl.
5. Note and record any colour changes that occur.
Results:
Solution / Initial Colour / Final ColourA – Starch Solution
B – Water (Control)
Title: To Test for Reducing Sugar
Date:
Apparatus: Water bath (80O- 100OC); Glucose solution; Water; 2 Test tubes; Dropper; Benedicts solution; Test tube rack;
Test tube holder.
Method:
1. Label two test tubes A and B.
2. Into tube A, place 2ml of glucose solution.
3. Into tube B, place 2ml of water.
4. Using a dropper, add 2ml of Benedicts solution to each test tube and swirl.
5. Place both test tubes in the water bath and heat for 5 minutes.
6. Remove the test tubes from the water bath and record any colour changes.
Results:
Solution / Initial Colour / Final ColourA – Glucose Solution
B – Water
Title: Test for Protein
Date:
Apparatus:2 Test tubes; Water; Protein solution; Biuret reagent; Dropper; Test tube rack
Method:
1. Label two test tubes A and B.
2. Into tube A, place 2ml of protein solution.
3. Into tube B, place 2ml of water.
4. Using a dropper, add 2ml of Biuret reagent to each test tube and swirl.
5. Note and record any colour changes.
Results:
Solution / Initial Colour / Final ColourA – Protein Solution
B – Water
Title: Test for Fat
Date:
Apparatus:Two pieces of brown paper; Source of fat (olive oil); Water; Dropper
Method:
1. Place 2-3 drops of oil on one piece of paper and label it ‘oil’.
2. Place 2-3 drops of water on the other piece of paper and label it ‘water’.
3. Leave both pieces of paper aside to dry.
4. Hold the pieces of paper up to the light and record the results.
Results:
Sample / Translucent SpotBefore Drying / After Drying
Oil
Water
Title:To Assess the Dry Matter (DM) of Silage (Squeeze Method)
Date:
Apparatus: Sample of Silage
Method:
1. Pick up a handful of silage.
2. Squeeze the silage gently between your hands.
3. Squeeze the silage harder between the hands.
4. Note the water released and determine the DM based on the table below.
5. Record results.
When Squeezed Gently / If water pours out / Low DMIf water only drips out / High DM
When Squeezed Hard / If water continues to drip out / High DM
If water fails to drip out / Very high DM
Results:
Title: To Assess the Quality of Silage (Texture, Smell, Colour)
Date:
Apparatus: Sample of Silage
Method:
1. Pick up a sample of silage.
2. Note the colour of the silage.
3. Pass the silage between your fingers and note the texture of the silage.
4. Waft the sample in front of your nose to note its smell.
5. Good quality silage is characterised by: yellow/green colour; firm texture; sharp sweet smell.
Results:
Title: To Assess the pH of Silage
Date:
Apparatus: Sample of silage; Funnel; Filter paper; Beaker; Conical flask; Universal indicator; Dropper.
Method:
1. Pick up a sample of silage and squeeze the moisture out of it into a beaker.
2. Filter the silage solution into a conical flask using a funnel lined with filter paper.
3. Add 2-3 drops of universal indicator to the filtered solution and swirl.
4. Compare the colour of the filtrate with the colour chart.
5. Record the pH of the silage.
Results:
Title: To Determine the % Sugar in Sugar Beet.
Date:
Apparatus: Sample of sugar beet; Mortar and pestle; Refractometer
Method:
1. Crush up some sugar beet in a mortar and pestle.
2. Drain off some of the sap.
3. Place the sap in a cuvette.
4. Measure the sugar content of the sugar beet using a refractometer.
5. Compare the refractometer reading with the measurements in the table below.
Refractometer Reading / % Carbohydrate9 – 10% / 3 – 4%
Greater than 10% / Greater than 4%
Note: The same procedure can be applied to measure the % sugar in any foodstuff.
If measuring the % sugar of grass, the grass should be frozen first - this will help to break the cell walls and membranes to release the sap.
Title: To Determine the % Total Water in Soil
Date:
Apparatus: Electronic balance; Sample of soil; Evaporating basin; Tongs; Oven
Method:
1. Obtain a fresh sample of soil.
2. Weigh an empty evaporating basin.
3. Place the sample of soil into the evaporating basin and re-weigh.
4. Calculate the weight of the fresh soil.
5. Place the evaporating basin in the oven at 100OC.
6. Leave the soil to dry in the oven for 24 hours and re-weigh.
7. Re-weigh every 24 hours to a constant weight.
8. Calculate the % water in the soil.
Results:
Mass of Evaporating Basin=______g
Mass of Fresh Soil + EvaporatingBasin=______g
Mass of Fresh Soil=______g
Mass after drying 1=______g
Mass after drying 2=______g
Mass after drying 3=______g
Mass after drying 4=______g
Mass of Dry Soil=______g
Mass of Water=______g
% Water = Mass of Water x 100=______%
Mass of Fresh Soil
Title: To Determine the % Available Water in Soil
Date:
Apparatus: Sample of Soil; Evaporating basin; Electronic balance
Method:
1. Obtain a fresh sample of soil.
2. Weigh an empty evaporating basin.
3. Place the sample of soil into the evaporating basin and re-weigh.
4. Calculate the weight of the fresh soil.
5. Leave the dish at room temperature for 24 hours and re-weigh.
6. Re-weigh every 24 hours to a constant weight.
7. Calculate the % available water in the soil.
Results:
Mass of Evaporating Basin=______g
Mass of Fresh Soil + EvaporatingBasin=______g
Mass of Fresh Soil=______g
Mass after drying 1=______g
Mass after drying 2=______g
Mass after drying 3=______g
Mass after drying 4=______g
Mass of Dry Soil=______g
Mass of Water=______g
% Available Water = Mass of Water x 100=______%
Mass of Fresh Soil
Title: To Determine the % Humus (Organic Matter) in Soil
Date:
Apparatus: Sample of dry soil; Evaporating basin; Electronic balance; Bunsen burner; Tripod stand; Tongs; Wire gauze.
Method:
1. Obtain a sample of dry soil (place soil in an oven at 100O C for 48 hours)
2. Weigh an empty evaporating basin.
3. Place the sample of soil into the evaporating basin and re-weigh.
4. Calculate the weight of the dry soil.
5. Place the evaporating basin on a wire gauze on a tripod over a bunsen flame.
6. Heat the sample of soil strongly.
7. Note the smoke and smell.
8. After five minutes, cool the sample and reweigh.
9. Continue heating in 5 minute intervals and re-weighing to a constant weight.
10. Calculate the % humus in the soil.
Results:
Mass of Evaporating Basin=______g
Mass of Dry Soil + EvaporatingBasin=______g
Mass of Dry Soil=______g
Mass after drying 1=______g
Mass after drying 2=______g
Mass after drying 3=______g
Mass after drying 4=______g
Mass of Dry Soil- Humus=______g
Mass of Humus=______g
% Humus= Mass of Humus x 100=______%
Mass of Dry Soil
Title: To Determine the Composition if Soil
Date:
Apparatus: Sample of soil; 250ml Graduated cylinder; Water; Stopper.
Method
1. Collect a sample of soil.
2. Place 50cm3 of the soil into the graduated cylinder.
3. ¾ fill the cylinder with water, stopper the cylinder and shake well.
4. Allow the soil to settle (sediment) overnight.
5. Examine and measure the volume of sand, silt, clay and humus.
6. Calculate the % of each in the soil sample.
Results:
Volume of Fresh Soil = ______/ Volume of Mineral Matter = ______Vol of Sand = ______/ % Sand = ______/ Vol of Sand = ______/ % Sand = ______
Vol of Silt = ______/ % Silt = ______/ Vol of Silt = ______/ % Silt = ______
Vol of Clay = ______/ % Clay = ______/ Vol of Clay = ______/ % Clay = ______
Title: To Show Flocculation in a Sample of ClaySoil
Date:
Apparatus: Sample of soil; 2 Test tubes; Lime; Water; Test tube rack
Method:
1. Label 2 test tubes A and B.
2. Place 10cm3 of soil into the 2 test tubes.
3. Place 2cm3 of lime into tube A.
4. ¾ fill each test tube with water.
5. Cover the tubes and shake for 1 minute.
6. Observe both tubes for 3-5 minutes.
7. Note what happens in each tube.
Results:
Title: To Demonstrate Capillarity in Soil
Date:
Apparatus: 2 Glass tubes; Glass wool; Sample of dry sand; Sample of dry clay; Basin of water.
Method:
1. Plug the bottom of two glass tubes with glass wool.
2. Place 250cm3 of dry sand into one of the tubes.
3. Place 250cm3 of dry clay into the other tube.