THE GERMINATION OF SEEDS

The aim is to illustrate that heat is liberated during respiration

The apparatus A and B

Take 2 thermometers, 2 thermos flasks, 2 rubber stoppers,2 beakers with seeds like beans or peas.

Take 2 beakers with seeds. To one of the beakers add water and allow the seeds soak for the whole night. On the next day morning take two wide mouthed thermos flasks which can be closed with a tight fitting cork. Put the germinating seeds into one of the thermosflasks and dry seeds in another thermos flask. Make a hole in the cork and insert a thermometer into cork and see the bulb of the thermometer is in the midst of the seeds. Record the temperature in both the flasks at every two or three hour intervals for about 24h.

In dry seeds, enzymes are inactive so respiration did not take place and no rise in temperature where as in germinating seeds enzymes are active and respiration has taken place with rise in temperature.