Association for Biology Laboratory Education

Electron Flow in Photosynthesis
 

R. Patrick Harrison

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 1989, Volume 10

Abstract

The fascinating concept of electron flow is explored with simple equipment in an exercise for first-year students. Students use a spectrophotometer to generate an absorption spectrum for spinach chloroplasts, and then make a prediction about the effect of wavelength of light on the rate of photosynthesis. Students design their own carefully controlled experiments to test their predictions.

Keywords:  photosynthesis, chloroplast, photosynthetic pigments, absorption spectrum, electron flow

University of British Columbia (1988)