ProductsOfRespiration

OB10 demonstrate the products of aerobic respiration

OB11 carry out qualitative tests to compare the carbon dioxide levels of inhaled and exhaled air

Products of Respiration Experiments

look at the word equation set out at the top of the page what are the products of this reaction ?

Carbon Dioxide and Water vapour

We need to test for Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapour

To test for Carbon Dioxide

Apparatus

Limewater, Test-Tubes (or conical flasks), Bungs (corks), Glass tubes & drinking straws,

Method

1. Half fill test-tube with (clear) Limewater
2. Put in 2 glasstube bung
3. Decide if you will Inhale or exhale, your partner should do the opposite.
4. By exhaling or inhaling bubble gas through the limewater for a set number of breaths
5. Compare with your partner the colour of the limewater

Observations

The tube through which we exhaled was Cloudy / Milky

The tube through which we inhaled was left clear

Conclusions

Lime water goes Milky when in contact with Carbon Dioxide CO₂

Therefore exhaled breath has MORE carbon Dioxide than Inhaled air

respiration as a release of energy from digested food

energy conversion from chemical energy to heat energy

To test for Water Vapour from your breath

Apparatus

Cold Tile, Anhydrous Copper Sulphate Powder (white)

Method

1. Remove tiles from fridge after spending time there overnight
2. Exhale / Breath on cold tile
3. Sprinkle copper sulphate powder on the tile
4. Observe any changes

Diagram

Results

The Anhydrous Copper Sulphate Powder went blue in colour

Copper Sulphate Powder is blue when in contact with water

Conclusion

The water vapour from our breath condensed on the cold tile.

We produce water vapour when we respire

Comments

Cobalt Chloride can also be used to test for water vapour, however these test papers are hard to use when they get old. Also these papers are banned in Irish Schools

Blue Cobalt Chloride Paper goes Pink in the presence of water