Photosynthesis and Oxygen -- October, 2003

1. A plant with fuzzy, as opposed to waxy, leaves, will give better data due to differences in gas exchange.
   
   
2. If you use the Xplorer, it is recommended that you use the Xplorer USB power adapter. The Oxygen Gas Sensor is energy-intensive, so data collection continuity may be compromised without an uninterrupted power source.
   
   
3. You may want to ensure the container is fully sealed by using tape or parafilm to reinforce the seal.
   
   
4. The change in oxygen concentration is very small, about 0.5%. Measuring in parts per million (ppm) yields more differentiated data. However, the percentage measurement shows a difference as well.
   
   
5. When the plant is first exposed to light, the oxygen concentration may fall below the level measured while plant was deprived of light. However, this will soon change to a steady increase in oxygen content.