Page 108 - ICSE Chemistry 6
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Activity 5.8
Aim: To show respira on in plants
Materials required: A conical fl ask, a few germina ng gram seeds, a bent glass tube, a cork, some lime
water, a thistle funnel
Procedure
• Take a conical fl ask.
• Put some germina ng gram seeds in the fl ask.
• Take a bent glass tube and insert its shorter end in
a cork through the hole thus fi xing it properly in the
conical fl ask.
• Put the longer end of the glass tube in a beaker
containing lime water.
• Insert the thistle funnel through the other hole of the
cork and fi x it on the fl ask.
• Make the fl ask air ght and add water into the fl ask through the funnel.
Observa on: You will observe a er some me that lime water in the beaker turns milky which shows the
presence of carbon dioxide in the conical fl ask.
Conclusion: The germina ng gram seeds in the conical fl ask produce carbon dioxide during respira on
which proves that plants also respire.
Combustion or Burning
In Ac vity 5.1, we have seen that the (fi rst two) candles which were covered stopped burning a er some
me. This happened because the supply of oxygen to the candles was cut off . Hence, we conclude that
oxygen is necessary for combus on or burning. Combus on or burning is a chemical process in which a
substance combines with oxygen to produce new substances together with heat and light energy.
We generally burn substances in order to obtain heat and light energy. Such substances which are burned
to release energy are called fuels.
Fuel + Oxygen Energy (Heat and light) + Carbon dioxide + Water vapour
Some commonly used fuels are wood, coal, petrol, diesel, LPG and CNG. Coal and petroleum are commonly
known as fossil fuels because they are formed from the remains of plants and animals.
Wood
Dry wood is widely used as a cooking fuel and to keep warm. It is a cheap and easily available fuel. When dry
wood is burned, it releases carbon dioxide and water vapour along with energy.
Coal
Coal is used as a fuel in power sta ons, houses, industries and steam engines. It is formed from the dead
remains of plants over a long period of me. It is a form of carbon and when it is burned, it releases a lot of
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