- Exam
- NEET
- Subject
- Botany
- Chapter
- Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
NEET · Botany · Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
What did Ingenhousz's experiment show about the role of sunlight?
Options
- AIt is not needed for plant growth
- BIt is essential for purifying air
- CIt damages plant cells
- DIt makes plants wilt
Correct answer
B. It is essential for purifying air
Step-by-step solution
Can you imagine how Priestley would have conducted the experiment using a candle and a plant? Remember, he would need to rekindle the candle to test whether it burns after a few days. How many different ways can you think of to light the candle without disturbing the set-up?Using a similar setup as the one used by Priestley, but by placing it once in the dark and once in the sunlight, Jan Ingenhousz (1730-1799) showed that sunlight is essential to the plant process that somehow purifies the air fouled by burning candles or breathing animals. Ingenhousz in an elegant experiment with an aquatic plant showed that in bright sunlight, small bubbles were formed around the green parts while in the dark they did not. Later he identified these bubbles to be of oxygen. Hence he showed that it is only the green part of the plants that could release oxygen.