Final answer:
Floating leaves are better for photosynthesis due to their broad, wide shape that captures more sunlight and their ability to float on the water surface, avoiding light absorption by the water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two qualities that floating leaves have which make them better able to photosynthesize than submerged leaves are broad leaves to capture sunlight and wide, flat leaves that can float on the water's surface. Floating leaves, such as those of a water lily, have a wide lamina, which increases their surface area to capture more sunlight. Furthermore, by floating on the surface, they are not limited by the light-absorbing properties of water, which allows them to photosynthesize more efficiently than leaves that are submerged and receive less light due to absorption by the water column and resident microorganisms.