Plants Form Water

Research Questions

• How do plants produce water?

The leaves of plants contain small pores called stomates. During the process of photosynthesis, plants give off water through the stomates in their leaves. This water can be collected and consumed in a survival situation.

Materials:

• potted plant
• sandwich-size plastic bag
• string

Experimental Procedure:

1. Gather the necessary materials.
2. Carefully cover a leaf of the plant with the small plastic bag. Secure the bag with the string being careful to not close too tightly.
3. Be sure the soil of the plant is moist. Place the plant in a partly sunny window. Wait one hour.
4. After one hour, check the plastic bag on the leaf. Record the results.
5. Continue checking the plastic bag on the leaf every hour for five hours. Record the results.
6. At the end of the 5 hours, record your conclusion.

Terms/Concepts: transpiration: the process by which plants produce water through their leaves; photosynthesis: the process of plants using carbon dioxide and water and light absorbed by chlorophyll; A plant uses sunlight and carbon dioxide from the air to produce food. It also produces water.

References:

“Transpiration” at http://www.factmonster.com/dk/science/encyclopedia/transpiration.html