Name: Date:
Exercise and Cellular Respiration Lab
How does exercise affect the amount of CO2 we produce?
Pre-Lab. Use your background information AND your Cellular Respiration notes
to answer the following
a) What is the equation for cellular respiration? Label the reactants and the
Products.
b) In what part of the cell does cellular respiration occur?
c) Write a prediction/hypothesis of how exercise will affect your body’s
production of carbon dioxide. Explain Why.
Materials:
• 100mL beaker
• Graduated Cylinder
• Universal Indicator
• Straw
• Stop Watch
• Plastic dropper
Safety:
• DO NOT SWALLOW THE SOLUTION-BREATH OUT NOT IN
• Wear gloves
• Wear eye protection
Procedure:
PART A: Resting (no exercise)
1. Use a graduated cylinder to measure out 50 mL of water and pour it into the
100mL beaker
2. Use a dropper to add 8 drops of Universal Indicator to the beaker to make the UI
solution
3. Measure the heart rate of the person who will be doing the breathing. Record it
in Table 1
4. Using a straw, exhale into the UI solution. DO NOT INHALE THE
SOLUTION!
5. Time how long it takes for the yellow solution to turn red. Record the time in
Table 1.
6. Wash out the beaker repeat steps 1-4 twice more. Average the results of the 3
trials. Record this in Table 1.
Part B: Muscle Activity (exercise)
1. Prepare the UI solution. 50mL of water and 10 drops of Universal indicator into
the beaker.
2. Exercise for exactly 1 minute by doing jumping jacks. Have your group mate
time you while you do it.
3. After 1 minute of exercise, immediately exhale through the straw into the UI
solution. DO NOT INHALE THE SOLUTION!
4. Time how long it takes for the UI solution to turn red. Record this In Table 2
5. Then quickly calculate the heart rate of the person who blew into the solution.
Record the heart rate in Table 2
6. Wash out the beaker and repeat steps 1-5 twice more.
7. Average the results of the 3 trials. Record this in Table 2.
Part C: Increased Muscle Activity (increased exercise)
1. Prepare the UI solution. 50 mL of water and 8 drops of Universal indicator into
the beaker.
2. Exercise for exactly 2 minutes by doing jumping jacks. Have your group mate
time you while you do it.
3. After 2 minutes of exercise, immediately exhale through the straw into the UI
solution. DO NOT INHALE THE SOLUTION!
4. Time how long it takes for the UI solution to turn red. Record this in Table 3
5. Then quickly calculate the heart rate of the person who blew into the solution.
Record the heart rate in Table 3.
6. Wash out the beaker and repeat steps 1-5 twice more.
7. Average the results of the 3 trials. Record this in Table 3.
Data and Observations:
Table 1: Time it takes UI solution to change color and resting Heart rate
Time (s) Heart Rate (bpm)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Table 2: Time it takes UI solution to change color and Heart rate after exercising for 1 minute
Time (s) Heart Rate (bpm)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Table 3: Time it takes UI solution to change color and Heart rate after exercising for 2 minutes
Time (s) Heart Rate (bpm)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Analysis & Conclusion:
Answer the questions below using your background information in the lab, as well as your lab data.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN COMPLETE SENTENCES.
1. How did exercise affect the time needed for the solution to change color?
2. What can you conclude about the effect of exercise on the amount of carbon
dioxide that is present in your exhaled breath? Why is this so?
3. What can you conclude about the effect of exercise on heart rate? Why is this
so? What do your muscles need during exercise that the blood brings?
5. State whether your hypothesis was correct or incorrect and why. In doing so,
discuss what you think is going on in the muscles of the body as muscle activity is
increased. Address the need to get oxygen to the muscles and get rid of carbon
dioxide, as well as how the muscles cells get the energy needed to continue
contracting. What did you see? Anything you were not expecting? Something
really awesome? Describe it here.
