======Aerobic Respiration in Plants======


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**Alternative titles:** Heat Production in Germinating Seeds
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  -Gather materials: two vacuum flasks, thermometers, cotton wool, stopwatch, and two sets of peas or beans.  
  -Soak both sets of peas or beans in water overnight to allow one batch to germinate.  
  -Boil one set to kill the cells and enzymes (control group).  
  -Place equal amounts of germinating peas in one flask and boiled peas in another, resting on moist cotton wool for air access.  
  -Insert a thermometer into each flask through a cotton wool bung and record the initial temperatures.  
  -Seal the flasks and keep them under the same conditions for several hours or days.  
  -Record temperature changes daily.  
  -Observe: the germinating seeds’ flask temperature rises due to heat released from aerobic respiration, while the control shows no change.



====Links==== 
Respiration Experiments - GCSE Biology (9-1) - Mr Exham Biology: 
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Heat is released during Respiration - Science Projects: 
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📄 Experiment to investigate aerobic respiration in plants and fungi using germinating beans or peas to show heat energy release with the formation of carbon dioxide - WP Brown PhD: [[https://www.docbrown.info/ebiology/respiration-2.htm#:~:text=Method:,the%20heat%20comes%20from%20respiration.]]\\


====Variations====
  *Repeat using yeast and glucose solution to compare respiration in fungi and plants.  
  *Use a digital temperature probe for more precise heat measurements.  
  *Test different numbers or masses of seeds to compare respiration rates.



====Safety Precautions====
  *Handle boiling water carefully when preparing the control seeds.  
  *Do not seal flasks completely—living seeds require oxygen for aerobic respiration.  
  *Dispose of plant material hygienically after the experiment.  
  *Wash hands thoroughly after handling seeds or soil.




====Questions to Consider====
  *What evidence shows that respiration releases heat? (The temperature in the germinating seed flask increases.)  
  *Why are boiled seeds used as a control? (Boiling kills the enzymes, preventing respiration.)  
  *What does the production of CO₂ confirm about the process occurring in the living seeds? (It shows aerobic respiration is taking place.)  
  *Why must air be allowed into the flask? (Oxygen is required for aerobic respiration.)  
  *How do these results demonstrate that respiration is an exothermic reaction? (Energy from glucose oxidation is released as heat and ATP.)  
  *What is the overall word equation for aerobic respiration? (Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy.)