Name:________________
Building Blocks of Photosynthesis
Background In this activity, you will use colored blocks to represent the molecules in photosynthesis and illustrate how they are broken down and reassembled to create glucose. Think About This What does a plant need to live? State at least two real-life observations that support your ideas. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Materials • 6 red blocks • 18 blue blocks • 12 green blocks • Sun’s energy stickers Procedure Red Blocks= Carbon Blue Blocks= Oxygen Green Blocks= Hydrogen 1. 2. 3. 4.
Make six molecules of water (H 2 O). Make six molecules of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Put on your “Sun’s Energy Sticker.” A reaction has just taken place. Rearrange the blocks in water and carbon dioxide to build six molecules of oxygen (O 2 ). 5. What other chemical does the plant make? Use the remaining blocks to build a single molecule. Write down the chemical formula.
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American Association of Chemistry Teachers
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Data Think about the numbers and types of molecules in the activity. Write the chemical equation for photosynthesis on the line in the box below. Use pictures or symbols to illustrate the molecules used in the equation. Do not draw blocks. Instead, find your own way of expressing what photosynthesis looks like.
Analysis 1. Why is the sun’s energy not listed within the equation for photosynthesis? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 2. What is the Law of Conservation of Matter? How does it apply in photosynthesis? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 3. Do humans or other animals go through photosynthesis? How do humans get glucose? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 4. What molecules do plants need for photosynthesis? a. Carbon American Association of Chemistry Teachers
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b. Oxygen c. Dioxide d. Carbon dioxide 5. What is C 6 H 12 O 6 ? a. Glucose b. Calories c. Sucrose d. Carbon hydroxide 6. What word does the arrow in a chemical equation mean? a. Equals b. Same as c. Yields d. Quantifies 7. What are a. b. c. d.
the products of photosynthesis? Carbon dioxide and oxygen Oxygen and water Water and carbon dioxide Oxygen and glucose
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