BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU

ELECTRICAL EFFECT OF CHEMICAL ACTIVITY IN PLANTS (BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY)

BY ANDREW SEFENU DZEBU APRIL 2008 BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU

i

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to: * Mr. Samuel Gadagoe, for giving me this assignment and helping me with chemistry. * Mr. Eric Adri, for his advice on how to go about the project and * Miss Bethany Wood, who taught me to love reading.

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU ii

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU

DEDICATION This work is dedicated to God, who wonderfully and fearfully made man in His likeness, and to my parents who virtually built my personality.

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU iii

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU

ABSTRACT Photosynthesizers absorb sunlight energy to carry out the process of photosynthesis. In this process, energy from sunlight is used to drive the reaction between carbon (IV) oxide and water, in an endothermic reaction, to produce organic molecules. In other words, sunlight energy is stored in these organic molecules. As sunlight is absorbed, water molecules are split into hydrogen ions (H+) and oxygen gas (O2) accompanied with the release of electrons; the process of photolysis. The electrons are transmitted through the Electron Transport Chain (ETC) in a series of stages and carriers such as cytochromes and is eventually released to reduce Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NADP) to form reduced NADP (NADPH+H+); the lightdependent stage of photosynthesis. These electrons in the ETC could be harnessed as electrical energy, through strategically located electrodes, at sites where electron density is high. This could however reduce the concentration of NADPH+H+, as the electrons needed to reduce NADP would not be available. When these electrons have been removed, two possibilities exist, with respect to the fate of the other reactions involved in photosynthesis: more water molecules would split to produce more electrons to restore the electron concentration and hence NADPH+H+ concentration or the equilibrium point in the reaction between NADPH+H+ and glycerate-3-phosphate (GP) to form triose phosphate (TP), would shift to the reactant side, to restore NADPH+H+ concentration: NADPH+H+ + GP

TP.

These two possible reactions each would occur in order to restore NADPH+H+ concentrations as it is a substrate in the series of reactions that lead to the production of glucose and hence starch. If its concentration is not restored, the final products (glucose, starch, etc) would not be produced in their right quantities and hence the plant may suffer setbacks in its growth and development. BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU iv

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU

TABLE OF CONTENTS. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ii

DEDICATION

iii

ABSTRACT

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

v

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1

2.0 METHODOLOGY

3 2.1 Apparatus

3

2.2 Experiments

3

2.3 Experimental Problems

4

2.4 Experimental Errors

4

2.5 Hazards and Safety Considerations

5

3.0 TABLES

6

3.1 Change in Potential Difference with Time in Solo Bio6 Cell No. 1 3.2 Change in Voltage with Time in Solo Bio-Cell No. 2

7

3.3 Change in voltage with Time in Solo Bio-cell No. 3

8

3.4 Change in Resistance with Time in Solo Bio-cell No.1

10

3.5 Change in Resistance with Time in Solo Bio-cell No. 2

12

3.6 Change in Electric Current with Time in Wet Bio-cell No.1

13

3.7 Change in Electric Current with Time in Wet Bio-cell 14

and (NH4)2SO4 mixture No.1. 3.8 Change in Voltage with Time in Wet Bio-cell and (NH4)2SO4 mixture No.1

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

14

ANDREW DZEBU v

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU

3.9 Change in Electric Current with Time in Dual Bio-cell 15

No. 1 3.10 Change in Electric Current with Time in Dual Bio-

15

cell No.2 3.11 Change in Voltage with Time in Dual Bio-cell No.1 3.12 Change in Voltage with Time in Dual Bio-cell No.2 4.0 GRAPHS

16 17 18

4.1 Change in Potential Difference with Time in Solo Bio18

Cell No. 1 4.2 Change in Voltage with Time in Solo Bio-Cell No. 2

18

4.3 Change in voltage with Time in Solo Bio-cell No. 3

19

4.4 Change in Resistance with Time in Solo Bio-cell No.1

19

4.5 Change in Resistance with Time in Solo Bio-cell No. 2

20

4.6 Change in Electric Current with Time in Wet Bio-cell No.1

20

4.7 Change in Electric Current with Time in Wet Bio-cell and (NH4)2SO4 mixture No.1.

21

4.8 Change in Voltage with Time in Wet Bio-cell and (NH4)2SO4 mixture No.1

21

4.9 Change in Electric Current with Time in Dual Bio-cell 22

No. 1 4.10 Change in Electric Current with Time in Dual Biocell No.2

22

4.11 Change in Voltage with Time in Dual Bio-cell No.1

23

4.12 Change in Voltage with Time in Dual Bio-cell No.2

23

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU vi

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU

5.0 DISCUSSION

24

6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

25

7.0 CONCLUSION

26

8.0 REFERENCES

27

APPENDICES A - DETERMINATION OF TOTAL SOLAR ENERGY RECEIVED BY THE EARTH PER SECOND. B - DETERMINATION OF TOTAL NUMBER OF HUMAN GENERATIONS LEFT ON EARTH.

BIOLOGICAL ELECTRICITY

ANDREW DZEBU vii