Question
Question: If the photosynthesizing plant, releases oxygen-containing more than the normal amount of \({ 18 }_{...
If the photosynthesizing plant, releases oxygen-containing more than the normal amount of 18O, it is concluded that the plant has been supplied with
(a) C6H12O6 with containing 18O
(b) H2O containing 18O
(c)CO2 containing 18O
(d) Oxygen in the form of ozone
Solution
In chemical terms, photosynthesis is a light-energized oxidation-reduction process. In which oxidation refers to the removal of electrons from a molecule; reduction refers to the gain of electrons by a molecule. In-plant photosynthesis, the energy of light is utilized to drive the oxidation of water.
Complete answer:
Since the process of photosynthesis makes use of CO2 and water to give out carbohydrates ( sugar) and O2, studies have been conducted to find that the oxygen evolved in the process is from CO2 or H2O. To work this out, the scientist used radioactive 18O isotope of oxygen. Carbon dioxide containing 18O oxygen is left to react with normal H2O. The outcome was that the oxygen given out didn't contain the radioactive isotope affirming that the oxygen developed originates from water. In any case, if the plant gives out more than the ordinary measure of oxygen, the plant at that point has been provided with H2O containing radioactive isotopes of oxygen.
Additional Information: The impact of oxygen concentration in the range of 0–21% on photosynthesis in intact leaves of various higher plants has been examined.
Photosynthetic CO2 fixation of higher plants is extraordinarily repressed by oxygen in concentrations down to less than 2%. The inhibition increments with oxygen concentration and is about 30% in an atmosphere of 21% O2 and 0.03% CO2. Undoubtedly, hence, oxygen in normal air exerts a strong inhibitory effect on photosynthetic CO2 fixation of land plants under natural conditions.
So the correct answer is ‘H2O containing 18O’.
Note: The diverse species of higher plants, shifting enormously in photosynthetic response to light intensity and CO2 concentration, and with light-saturated roles of CO2 fixation differing by a factor of more than 10 times, show a remarkable similarity in their response to oxygen concentration.