Unit _____ Lesson _____________________________________ Date ______________
Experiment Topic Demonstration of Heat Production During Respiration in Peas
ASKING QUESTIONS
What am I trying to investigate? What is my question?
I am trying to investigate whether heat is produced during respiration in peas. My
question is: Does the process of respiration in germinating peas generate heat, and if
so, how does it compare to non-germinating (dead) peas?
PREDICTING WHAT WILL HAPPEN
I think that... The flask containing germinating peas will show a higher temperature at
the end of the experiment compared to the flask containing dead peas.
My reason is that….I expect this because living organisms, including germinating
peas, undergo respiration, which is an exothermic process that generates heat. Dead
peas, on the other hand, should not undergo respiration, so there should be no heat
production.
PLANNING MY INVESTIGATION-PROCEDURE
I will need:
Two vacuum flasks
Germinating peas
Dead (boiled) peas
1% bleach solution
Distilled water
Cotton wool
Thermometer
What am I going to change?
I will change the content of the flasks, one containing germinating peas, and the other
containing dead peas.
What am I going to keep the same?
I will keep the initial temperature of both flasks the same (21°C) and ensure that both
flasks have the same amount of air inside.
What am I going to measure?
flask after the experiment.
What am I going to do?
Soak some peas in water for 24 hours to allow germination.
Boil another batch of peas to kill them.
Disinfect both batches with a 1% bleach solution.
Rinse both batches thoroughly with distilled water.
Place the germinating peas in one flask and the dead peas in the other flask. Insert
cotton wool into each flask to allow carbon dioxide to escape.
Measure the initial temperature of both flasks (start=21°C).
Leave the apparatus set up for a couple of days.
Measure the final temperature inside each flask.
I will be careful of:
Ensuring both flasks have the same initial temperature.
Not disturbing the apparatus during the experiment
Accurate measurement of the final temperature.
MAKING OBSERVATIONS
How can I make my observations accurate?
I can make my observations accurate by using a thermometer with clear markings and
ensuring that I read the temperature carefully. I should also avoid any external factors that
could influence the temperature inside the flasks.
Which measuring devices can I use?
I will use a thermometer to measure the temperature inside the flasks.
RECORDING RESULTS
How will I make my results neat and tidy?
I will record my results neatly in a table.
Will I use a table?
Yes, I will use a table to record the initial and final temperatures of
both flasks.
Will I draw a chart or a graph?
I may choose to draw a bar chart to visualize the temperature difference between the
two flasks.
MAKING SENSE OF MY RESULTS
Can I see any patterns?
I will look for a pattern by comparing the final temperatures of the two flasks. If the
flask with germinating peas has a higher final temperature, it will indicate that heat is
produced during respiration
Are any results unusual?
Unusual results would be if there is no temperature difference between the two flasks.
This would raise questions about the validity of the experiment.
Do the results support my prediction?
Compare the results to the initial prediction to determine if they align.
If the flask with germinating peas has a higher final temperature, it will support my
prediction that respiration in germinating peas generates heat.
Other questions I could ask myself…
Are there any other factors that could influence the temperature inside the flasks?
How might the results change if the peas were not disinfected with bleach before the
experiment?
What implications do these results have for understanding the process of respiration
in
living organisms?
