Cellular Respiration Virtual Lab
Name:______________________________________ Hr: __
All organisms are dependent on a healthy carbon dioxide-oxygen balance. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are
key processes in maintaining this balance. Plants, through the process of photosynthesis, use energy absorbed from
sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce sugars and oxygen. Animals AND plants, through the process of cellular
respiration, use oxygen and sugars to produce carbon dioxide, water, and the energy needed to maintain life.
You will use the following website to determine how carbon dioxide cycles through a biological system, by performing
the "Carbon Transfer Through Snails and Elodea" virtual experiment.
http://www.classzone.com/cz/books/bio_07/resources/htmls/virtual_labs/virtualLabs.html
Follow the steps to the lab given on the screen until you complete all seven steps. You will need to fill in the lab
notebook as you go, but you will only be graded on what you include in your lab notebook and your final lab report.

Problem: Read through the problem tab. Create your own question for what you are investigating in this
experiment.

Explore the lab to learn what is available to you in your investigation. You must click on each item in the
checklist to move on. Be sure you understand the materials you will be using in the lab. Pay close attention to
what each color means.

Hypothesis: Using an if, then, because… statement, make a statement that is an educated guess about your
experiment. Example: "If I add a snail and elodea to a test tube with bromthymol blue, then..."

Variables and Control Identification: Identify the independent and dependent variable(s) in your experiment as
well as the control group.

Materials List: List all of the materials that you used for the investigation (Don't simply list computer. You need
to list the materials you used on the computer.

Procedure: Include a step-by-step procedure of everything you did for the investigation. Someone who hasn’t
been in our class should be able to pick up your procedure and do exactly what you did from what you have
written. You need to use 8 test tubes for your experiment. Follow the data table below.

Data Table: Create a data table showing all of the information from the lab. Be sure to include all column
heading and units as necessary
Test
Tube
Environment
Organisms Included
Beginning
Color
#1
Growth Light
No snails, No Elodea
Green
#2
Growth Light
2 Snails
Green
#3
Growth Light
2 Elodea
Green
#4
Growth Light
2 Snails, 2 Elodea
Green
#5
Under Test Tube Cover
No snails, No Elodea
#6
Under Test Tube Cover
2 Snails
#7
Under Test Tube Cover
2 Elodea
#8
Under Test Tube Cover
2 Snails, 2 Elodea
Ending Color
Prediction
Actual Color
Result

Analysis of Results: You need a statement (or more) interpreting your data (what does it all mean). You also
need to include a graph of all of your data. Don’t forget a title, labels, appropriate spacing, etc.

Conclusion: Relate the data you obtained back to the problem you chose to answer in the beginning. Does your
data support your hypothesis, why or why not? Note: hypotheses cannot be proven!
o

Write at statement for each of the test tubes explaining what went on in the test tube that resulted in
the color change (if any)
Extension/Application of Knowledge: Carefully think about and answer the following questions.
1. What is the relationship between snails and Elodea?
2. What was happening in the test tubes that caused changes in the color of the Bromthymol Blue? Give
an in depth explanation about WHY the levels changed resulting in a change in color.
3. What is the importance of a control in your experiment? What would you conclude if the color of the
solution in the control changed?
4. Explain what happened in the test tubes that changed from green to blue. WHY did this change occur?
Be as specific and in depth as possible.
5. Explain what happened in the test tubes that changed from green to yellow. WHY did this change
occur? Be as specific and in depth as possible.
6. If you knew nothing about snails already, what results in this experiment could help you prove that they
go through the process of cellular respiration?
Cellular Respiration Virtual Lab
Problem/Question
Hypothesis
If . . . then . . . because
Variable and Control
Identification
Materials List
Procedures
Data Table
Analysis of Results
Name:______________________________________ Hr: __
3
Clearly Stated
Clearly Stated
2
Adequately stated
Adequately stated
1
Poorly Stated
Poorly Stated
0
Missing or severely limited
Missing or severely limited
All three identified
correctly
Complete material list
Clearly matched the
question and hypothesis
Two out of three
identified correctly
Partial material list
Generally matched the
question and hypothesis
One out of three identified
correctly
Missing or severely limited
Clear, complete and
replicable
With minor revisions
would be clear, complete
and replicable
Needs major revisions to be
clear, complete and
replicable
Cannot be replicated
All of the following tasks
were met:
Most of the following
tasks were met:
Some of the following tasks
were met:
None of the following tasks
were met:
-
Data table had a title
and completed
column headings
Data indicated
sufficient testing
Labels were correct
Professional
appearance
Statement was fully
supported by your data
-
Data table had a title
and completed
column headings
Data indicated
sufficient testing
Labels were correct
Professional
appearance
Statement was somewhat
supported by your data
-
Data table had a title
and completed column
headings
Data indicated
sufficient testing
Labels were correct
Professional
appearance
Statement was generally not
supported by your data
-
Data table had a title
and completed column
headings
Data indicated
sufficient testing
Labels were correct
Professional
appearance
Statement was generally not
supported by your data
All of the following tasks
were met
Most of the following
tasks were met
Some of the following tasks
were met
None of the following tasks
were met
-
-
-
-
-
-
Graph had title,
key/legend, and
correctly labeled X
and Y axes
Numbered and
spaced axes
appropriate for
generated data
Appropriate graph is
used
Professional
appearance
-
-
Graph had title,
key/legend, and
correctly labeled X
and Y axes
Numbered and
spaced axes
appropriate for
generated data
Appropriate graph is
used
Professional
appearance
To some extent, matched
the question and hypothesis
-
-
Graph had title,
key/legend, and
correctly labeled X and
Y axes
Numbered and spaced
axes appropriate for
generated data
Appropriate graph is
used
Professional
appearance
No material list
Did not match the question
and hypothesis
-
-
Graph had title,
key/legend, and
correctly labeled X and
Y axes
Numbered and spaced
axes appropriate for
generated data
Appropriate graph is
used
Professional
appearance
Questions were not
answered in depth
Questions were answered
not answered
Not related to the stated
problem or supported by
data
Not related to the stated
problem or supported by
data
Incomplete statement
Incomplete statement
At least 5 correct
statements regarding
what happened in each
test tube
At least 3 correct statements
regarding what happened in
each test tube
Statement contains no
support from data
At least 1 correct statements
regarding what happened in
each test tube
Conclusion
Questions were answered
in depth
Related to the stated
problem and fully
supported by data
Questions were answered
in depth
Related to the stated
problem and generally
supported by data
Conclusion
Valid statement
supported by data
8 correct statements
regarding what happened
in each test tube
Extension Questions:
1. _____/ 1 point 2. _____/ 1 point 3. _____/ 2 points 4. _____/ 2 points 5. _____/ 2 points 6. _____/ 1 point