Transpiration Lab
Part A - Celery
Purpose: To observe the transpiration pathway in a celery plant.
Hypothesis: You need to make your own hypothesis. This should include where you think the water
will enter the celery, what path it will take, and where it will exit the celery.
Materials: Celery, beaker, food coloring, water, knife, plastic wrap, rubber band, painters tape.
Safety: What safety precautions need to be taken in this lab?
Procedures:
1. Write your group name and “water” on a piece of painters tape, and tape to your beaker.
2. Half fill a 500ml beaker with water.
3. Add enough food coloring (not green) to the water for it to be a strong color. Be sure to note how
many drops you added.
4. Cut the bottom end of a celery stalk with a knife
5. Wrap plastic wrap around the top of the beaker to prevent evaporation, and tape to the beaker with
scotch tape.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 with another stalk of celery and another solution, such as salt water or vinegar.
7. Leave for 48 hours.
8. Record your observations of your celery by drawing a picture of what your celery looks like after the
food coloring has passed through it.
9. Record the amount of water and salt water/vinegar in the beaker.
10. Write a formal lab report on the processes exemplified in this laboratory. Be sure to discuss the
following questions in your discussion section:
A. What happened to the celery in each liquid?
B. In which liquid did the celery live the best and why?
C. What properties of the second liquid made it function differently in the celery than water?
D. What process occurred to bring the food coloring to the top of the celery leaves?
E. What other factors could have influenced this experiment?
Part B – Carnation
Purpose: To observe the transpiration pathway in a carnation plant.
Hypothesis: You need to make your own hypothesis. This should include where you think the water
will enter the carnation, what path it will take, and where it will exit the carnation.
Materials: Carnation, pitcher, food coloring, scotch tape, ruler, scissors
Procedures:
1. Fill a pitcher 4” high with cool water.
2. Add food coloring so the water is completely changed in color.
3. Write your names on a piece of scotch tape.
4. Wrap your scotch tape around your carnation to label it.
5. Cut the bottom of your carnation with scissors.
6. Place the carnation in the pitcher with the food coloring.
7. Leave for 48 hours
8. Record your observations of your carnation by drawing a picture of what your celery looks like after
the food coloring has passed through it.
9. Note the color of your carnation compared to the other colors utilized in the experiment. (Which one
was better?)
10. Write a formal lab report on the processes exemplified in this laboratory. Be sure to discuss the
following questions in your discussion section:
A. What happened to the carnation?
B. Where is the color in the flower?
C. What process occurred to bring the food coloring to the top of the carnation leaves?
D. What other factors could have influenced this experiment?
The formal lab report for both parts of this experiment is due Thursday 2/26/15. A lab report is worth
100 points (as much as a test grade). Please refer to the link on the website titled “Formal lab report
Format” to guide you to the lab report requirements. Remember, all background information MUST be
referenced using APA format. Please see Mrs. Carmody ASAP with any questions, concerns, or
confusions!