Question

would temperature affect the results in a spectrometer test for a leaf? please help.

Answer 1

temperature wouldn't affect the outcome if it was kept constant, but it can affect the sensitivity of the instrument. You're talking about a pigment absorption experiment, right?

Answer 2

light-absorption**

Answer 3

yeah, i would use different temperatures. basically, it's supposed to be a photosynthesis lab but i can't get sufficient data if i'm calculating retention values, so in my research it says that denaturing chlorophyll, the pigment(s) i'm testing, it would affect the absorbance spectrum

Answer 4

like my question is, would i get sufficient data if i "cook" the leaf, keep the leaf at a constant temperature, and then put the leaf in a cold temperature (those are my three variables) and then i put the chromatogrpahy paper in the spectrometer, like would that work?

Answer 5

hmm you will get data. but it won't be correct. you will denature the protein (chlorophyll) if you heat it high enough and even if you cool it back down, it won't refold to it's original shape, so the data will not be accurate.

Answer 6

i had understood originally that you were taking measurements on the spectrometer at the same temperature. Which is what i was addressing in my first post.

Answer 7

well, i'll be using another leaf for each different temperature, i'm not using the same leaf for each variable. i'll be using a fresh leaf.

Answer 8

okay, so you're using different leaves? Are you asking about effect of temperature on the extraction, or the effect when you're taking the measurement?

Answer 9

okay, i'm using kale leaves as the leaf. for each different temperature, there will be a whole new kale leaf being used. i'm measuring to see if the temperature will effect the absorbance of chlorophyll. but the way that i'll be "controlling" the temperature is that the leaves will be put in water with their prospective temperatures.

Answer 10

okay, i don't think it will affect it. Most organisms have a range where the efficiency is greatest and gradually decreases as you deviate in either direction. (as you lower or raise the temp). For chlorophyll specifically, I'm not sure how much it applies. Photosynthesis itself is dependent on temperature, but i don't think the actual absorption of light is dependent of temperature