An organism is sealed in a chamber. Scientists measure the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the chamber. In 3–5 sentences, explain how they can use the volumes of these gases to determine if photosynthesis or cellular respiration is occurring in in the chamber. (no plagiarism)

1 answer

Scientists can analyze the volumes of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the chamber to determine if photosynthesis or cellular respiration is occurring by observing the changes in their concentrations. During photosynthesis, plants consume carbon dioxide and release oxygen, resulting in decreased CO2 levels and increased O2 levels over time. Conversely, during cellular respiration, organisms consume oxygen and produce carbon dioxide, leading to lower O2 levels and increased CO2 levels. By monitoring these gases over time, scientists can identify which process is dominant in the chamber based on the observed trends in gas concentrations.