EXPERIMENT- 01

Aim- To experimentally demonstrate that carbon dioxide is released during the process of
respiration.

Material Required- Soaked gram seeds, U-shaped delivery tube, Conical flask
Blotting paper (moist) /cotton wool, Thread,
Water, Beaker, Test tube, Rubber cork with a single hole, Freshly prepared KOH solution (20%),
Vaseline

Procedure
• Germinate close to 25 seeds. This can be done by wrapping them in moist blotting paper or
cotton wool for around 3 to 4 days.
• Set up the germinated or sprouted seeds in the conical flask. Spray some water into the flask
to dampen the seeds.
• With the help of a thread, suspend the conical flask containing the test tube having a freshly
prepared 20% KOH solution.
• Use the rubber cork to seal the opening of the conical flask.
• One edge of the U-shaped glass delivery tube present in the conical flask should be inserted
through the hole in the rubber cork. The other edge should be placed into a beaker that is
saturated with water.
• All attachments of the set-up should be sealed. This can be done using vaseline to create an
air-tight environment.
• The initial water level present in the U-shaped delivery tube needs to be marked.
• Leave the experimental set-up uninterrupted for 1 to 2 hours. Observe the fluctuations in the
water level in the tube.

Observation
Careful observation after a certain period of time reveals that the water level in the U-shaped
delivery tube has risen in the beaker.

Conclusions
The rise in level water indicates that carbon dioxide is released as a result of germinating gram
seeds during the process of respiration in the conical flask. The carbon dioxide that is released
in the process is absorbed or consumed by the KOH solution that is suspended in the test tube
in the conical flask, creating a vacuum or a void in the flask resulting in the upward water
movement in the tube. Hence, the water level in the tube changes.

Precautions
●The seeds that are to be germinated needs to be moistened.
●Air-tight environment for all the connections in the experimental set-up.
●The KOH solution that is used needs to be freshly prepared.
●Care needs to be taken to ensure that one end of the delivery tube is placed in the conical
flask. The other edge is submerged in the water of the beaker.
●The tube that contains the KOH solution needs to be suspended carefully.

EXPERIMENT- 02

Aim- To prepare a temporary mount of a leaf peel in order to show the stomata of a leaf

Principle/Theory
Plants are the primary producers. They carry out physiological processes such as
photosynthesis and respiration which requires a gas exchange between the tissues of plants
and the atmosphere. This process is carried out through tiny openings located in leaves, known
as stomata.

Material Required- Freshly plucked leaf, Needles, Forceps, Watch glass, Dropper, Glass
slides, A brush, Coverslips, Blotting paper, Safranin, Compound microscope, Glycerine

Procedure-
•Take a freshly plucked leaf
•Stretch the leaf with its dorsal (lower) part facing upwards.
•Break the leaf by applying suitable pressure so that the epidermis projects from the leaf.
•Cut the epidermis and put it in a petri dish.
Take a watch glass, add few drops of water and a drop of stain in it.
•Transfer the small piece of epidermis from petri-dish into the watch glass with the help of brush.
•Allow the peel to remain in the stain for 2-3 minutes, so that it can take up the stain.
•With the help of brush transfer the stained peel into a petri dish with water to remove the extra
stain.
•Now take a clean slide and place it on a filter paper. In the centre of the slide put a drop of
glycerine and transfer the stained peel from petri dish on the slide.
•Gently hold the coverslip with the needle and place it on the peel. Avoid air bubbles formation.
•Use the filter paper to clean the excess stain, water or glycerine that comes out from the
coverslip sides.
•Ensure that the slide is clean and place it under the microscope. First view it under low power
(10X) and then under high power(45X).
•Record your observations.

Diagram
Observation
•In an epidermal peel we see single layer of cells.
•In between the epidermal layer small spots are seen.
•When focused under powerful microscope the stomata pores are clearly seen.
•Each stomata pore has two kidney-shaped cells called guard cells.
•Each guard cell has one nucleus and many chloroplasts.

Precautions
•While removing the epidermal peel, ensure that you pluck the thinner scrap of leaf.
•Do not overstain the peel.
•Avoid air-bubbles formation while placing the coverslip.
•The peel should not be folded.
•The slide should be clean and dry before placing it under microscope

EXPERIMENT- 03

Aim- To study about

Principle/Theory
Budding and binary fission are types of asexual reproduction observed in lower organisms such
as bacteria, unicellular protozoans and some other entities.
Binary fission- In this type of reproduction, the parent cell divides or is split into two daughter
cells, wherein each daughter cell develops into an adult.
Budding- It is a kind of asexual reproduction wherein a new organism develops from a bud or
an outgrowth due to the process of cell division at a particular site.

Material Required
Compound microscope, Permanent slides of budding in yeast and binary fission in amoeba.

Procedure
•Place the slide under a compound microscope and focus the slide, first under low power and
later under high power of the compound microscope
•Various stages of budding and binary fission can be carefully examined
Diagram

Observation
(a) Binary fission in Amoeba
Initially, the pseudopodia are retrieved. The body of amoeba is coiled and becomes round.
Amitosis is observed, the division of the nucleus takes places which are followed by splitting of
cytoplasm.
At the point of fission in the body of the amoeba, a constriction starts to develop.
The constriction or furrow turns deeper resulting in the formation of two daughter cells
(b) Budding in yeast
Protuberance or a tiny outgrowth is observed on the parent cell. Division of the nucleus is
observed which is later seen in the bud
Repetitive budding leads to the formation of a chain of cells

Conclusions
The prepared slides display asexual reproduction. One individual is involved to produce a new
offspring of its own kind.

Precautions
•Slides need to be aligned and focused accurately
•Sketch out your observation that is observed under a microscope
•The slides first need to be examined under a low-power magnification of the compound
microscope and then under high-power magnification