REGISTRO DOI: 10.69849/revistaft/cs10202501141937
Ítalo Martins Soares
Tate Lofdahl
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of potassium nitrate on the color change of the aquatic plant Elodea. The experiment aimed to determine whether potassium nitrate could alter the plant’s color when added to its aquatic environment. Two groups of Elodea were placed under controlled greenhouse conditions for seven days, with one group exposed to water containing 2 mL of potassium nitrate and the other serving as a control in plain water. Color changes were monitored using the Color Viewfinder app. Results showed no color alteration in either group, refuting the hypothesis that potassium nitrate would cause the Elodea to turn a darker green. Future research could extend the duration of exposure to explore long-term effects.
Keywords: elodea, color, potassium nitrate
1. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this experiment was to find out how the Elodea would react in a different environment. The question that led the experiment was: If potassium nitrate was added in the water, how would it affect the plant’s color? Potassium nitrate was used in this experiment because depending on the concentration it could potentially change the color of the plants.
Elodea was used in this experiment because this plant can be found in other countries other than the USA, including Brazil.
The hypothesis created was that the plants would have their color changed into a darker green.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment occurred in a greenhouse. Two samples were placed in a spot where they would receive light for 12 hours a day. One sample contained the Elodea in water and 2 ml potassium nitrate, and the other one contained just Elodea in water. The plants would stay in the same place for 7 days.
For this test, the amount of potassium nitrate was the independent variable. The dependent variable was the color change presented by the Elodea. The standardized variable was the temperature that was the same in the greenhouse.
The color change was recorded three times during the week. An app called Color Viewfinder was used in order to determine if there was color change or not.
3. RESULTS
After 7 days, the samples were observed for the last time and there was no color change.
The results were presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1. The normal sample was the one on the left and the sample with potassium nitrate was on the right. The picture shows that there was no color change after the end of the experiment.
4. CONCLUSIONS
As there was no color change in the Elodea during the experiment, the hypothesis was refuted. The hypothesis stated that the Elodea would change into dark green, but the plants remained the same color.
5. FUTURE DIRECTIONS
The hypothesis was not supported probably because the Elodea would have been contained in the recipient with potassium nitrate for more time. If a new experiment was going to be made, the number of days which the Elodea would be tested would be higher. Knowing that it was necessary to wait for more days to see some results, future researchers could use this information to be successful in the experiment.
6. BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/alphabetical index/elodea/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0044848683902326
7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project was supported in part by the Department of Biology and Chemistry. Special thanks to my partner Tate Lofdahl and Dr. Rebecca Schimidt for assisting with this project.