Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon Dioxide Gas:
The carbon dioxide gas exhaled by the mealworm is a waste product of cellular respiration. During cellular respiration, the mealworm breaks down glucose (obtained from its food) in the presence of oxygen to produce energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), carbon dioxide, and water. The released carbon dioxide is then expelled from the mealworm's body as it exhales.
Oxygen Usage:
The oxygen that the mealworm is breathing in is used for the process of cellular respiration. As mentioned earlier, cellular respiration is a biochemical process that occurs in the mitochondria of cells. It involves the breakdown of glucose (derived from the food the mealworm consumes) using oxygen to produce energy (in the form of ATP), carbon dioxide, and water. The energy produced is utilized by the mealworm for various life-sustaining activities such as movement, growth, and reproduction.
Experiment to Confirm the Effect of Glucose on Respiration Rate:
To investigate whether increasing the amount of glucose would change the rate of respiration in mealworms, you could set up an experiment as follows:
Materials needed:
1. Several mealworms
2. Containers with lids (to act as respiration chambers)
3. Glucose solution of different concentrations (e.g., 1%, 5%, 10%)
Water
4. Timer or stopwatch
5. Thermometer (to monitor temperature)
Procedure:
Set up different containers, each with a mealworm inside, and cover them with lids to create a closed system.
Prepare glucose solutions of different concentrations (1%, 5%, 10%, etc.).
In each container, place a small amount of a different glucose solution. For one container, use plain water as a control.
Seal the containers tightly to ensure that no gas exchange occurs with the external environment.
Place the containers in a stable environment with a consistent temperature.
Start the timer or stopwatch and record the initial time.
Observe the mealworms for a specific period (e.g., 30 minutes) while measuring the rate of carbon dioxide production.
You can measure the rate of carbon dioxide production indirectly by noting changes in the temperature within each container. As respiration produces heat, an increase in temperature would indicate higher respiration rates.
Compare the respiration rates among the different containers to determine the effect of glucose concentration on the rate of respiration.
Note: It's essential to ensure that other factors, such as temperature and the number of mealworms, remain constant throughout the experiment to obtain accurate results. Additionally, repeating the experiment several times and taking averages can help improve the reliability of the findings.