When you put a few sprigs of a plant in water and place it in bright light, the bubbles you initially see forming are primarily due to the release of oxygen gas. This occurs as a result of photosynthesis, where the plant takes in carbon dioxide and water, and using sunlight, converts it into glucose and oxygen. The oxygen is released as a byproduct, which is why you see bubbles.
After some time, if the bubbles stop forming, it could be that the plants have used up most of the carbon dioxide in the water, which is essential for the photosynthesis process to continue.
When your teacher says to blow through a straw into the water, this action adds more carbon dioxide to the water. The carbon dioxide you exhale increases the availability of this gas in the water, which can help restart the photosynthesis process in the plants.
So:
- The initial bubbles are primarily oxygen gas.
- Blowing through a straw into the water adds more carbon dioxide.