Question

1 alice was participating in a photosynthesis lab for science class. the lab procedures instructed alice to prepare a test tube containing water, a sprig of elodea (a common aquarium plant), and 10 g of sodium bicarbonate (nahco3). she was then instructed to place the test tube in front of a strong light source for one minute. alice noticed tiny bubbles forming on the leaves of the elodea.
what is the most logical explanation for why alice saw bubbles forming on the leaves of the elodea?
a the bubbles formed as the elodea plant released oxygen from the elodea leaves.
b the bubbles formed from the release of water molecules from the elodea leaves.
c the bubbles formed as a result of the hydrogen from the sodium bicarbonate mixture dissolving the elodea leaves.
d the bubbles formed as the elodea plant released carbon dioxide from the elodea leaves.

Explanation:

Photosynthesis in plants (like elodea) uses light energy, and during this process, oxygen is a by - product. The setup with light and the plant (elodea) in water with sodium bicarbonate (which provides carbon dioxide) is a typical photosynthesis experiment. Water molecules don't form bubbles like this, hydrogen from sodium bicarbonate doesn't dissolve leaves to form bubbles, and plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis (not release carbon dioxide in this light - dependent setup). So the bubbles are oxygen released by the elodea during photosynthesis.

Answer:

A. The bubbles formed as the elodea plant released oxygen from the elodea leaves.