Green Plants, Red Glow
Photosynthesis is a chemical process through which plants make their food. They use a pigment in the leaves called chlorophyll to trap sunlight and together with carbon dioxide make their food. Chlorophyll is known to fluoresce when exposed to light. In the green plant-red glow experiment, chlorophyll is extracted from fresh spinach and the red fluorescence of the chlorophyll solution is observed. This activity introduces students to the concepts of chlorophyll and fluorescence as related to photosynthesis.
WARNINGS & SAFETY
Participants must wear safety glasses. Activity involves the use of rubbing alcohol – store and keep away from flames. Do not ingest any of the materials!
