you want to confirm the movement of oxygen atoms through the

you want to confirm the movement of oxygen atoms through the photosynthetic reactions. You can radiolabel O^18 isotopes, and provide the plants with 1) radiolabeled H2O^18 or 2) radiolabled C(O^18)2. for these two conditions, where would you find the radioactive atoms after photosynthesis has proceeded?

Solution

In photosynthesis, plants use light energy to produce glucose from carbon dioxide and hydrogen obtained from splitting of water, which also requires light energy. The glucose is used to for energy purposes by plant or is stored in the form of starch granules, in amyloplasts.

Therefore, the some radio-labeled oxygen will be found in amyloplasts of cells and the rest will be released by the plant in air.