Diagnosing secondary students’ misconceptions of photosynthesis and respiration in plants using a two-tier multiple choice instrument

Journal of Biological Education
By Hasla, Filocha & Treagust,David
“Diagnosing secondary students’ misconceptions of photosynthesis and respiration in plants using a two-tier multiple choice instrument”
Publisher: Routledge
3/21
Pp. 203-211
1987
Diagnosing secondary students’ misconceptions of photosynthesis and respiration in plants using a two-tier multiple choice instrument
Type: Empirical
Data collection method: Test
Number of subjects, range: Large — 31 or more
Grade and age of subjects: PreK-2nd — under 7-8 years of age, 3rd-5th grade — under 10-11 years

  • Respiration in green plants takes place only during the day. Respiration does not take place in the presence of light energy. Carbon dioxide gas is given off in largest amounts by green plants in the presence of sunlight.

  • Photosynthesis occurs in green plants all the time. Photosynthesis can occur when there is no light energy. Carbon dioxide is used in respiration when there is no light energy to photosynthesize. Oxygen gas is used in respiration which only occurs in green plants when there is no light energy to photosynthesize.

  • Green plants stop photosynthesizing when there is no light energy at all so they continue to respire and give off oxygen gas. Green plants respire only when there is no light energy.
  • Green plants make their food from oxygen gas in the presence of light energy.
  • Respiration in plants takes place in the cells of the leaves only since only leaves have special pores to exchange gases

  • Respiration in green plants is a chemical process to obtain energy which occurs in plant cells but not in animal cells.

  • Respiration in green plants provides energy to live and is a chemical process by which plants manufacture food from water and carbon

    dioxide. Respiration in green plants is the taking in of carbon dioxide and giving off of oxygen gases through plant stomates.

  • Green plants respire only at night (when there is no light energy).

  • In the process of respiration carbon dioxide and water are used by the green plant to produce energy during which time glucose and oxygen waste are produced.

  • The green pigment called chlorophyll combines with the carbon dioxide in the presence of light energy and produces glucose and water

  • Nongreen plants like fungi which do not contain chlorophyll or similar pigments can also photosynthesize

  • The most important benefit to green plants when they photosynthesize is the production of energy for plant growth. (1, 2) The most important benefit to plants when they photosynthesize is the removal of carbon dioxide from the air through the leaf’s stomates

  • Respiration takes place in all plants only when there is no light energy and in all animals all the time.