Respirometer

Respirometer

A Respirometer is a device used to measure the rate of respiration of a living organism by determining its rate of exchange of oxygen and/or carbon dioxide. They allow investigation into how factors such as age, or chemicals affect the rate of respiration. Respirometers are designed to measure respiration either via the amount of gas produced or consumed during the experiment.

Types of Respirometers

There are two types of respirometers, closed system respirometer and open system respirometer.

Closed System Respirometer

In a closed system respirometer, the organism is sealed into the system, and the amount of gas either consumed or produced is measured.

Open System Respirometer

In an open system respirometer, the organism is not sealed into the system. Instead, air is pumped in at a known rate, and the amount of gas either consumed or produced is measured.

Applications

Respirometers are used in a variety of applications, including:

• Studying the metabolism of microorganisms in soil and compost
• Measuring the metabolic rate of animals, including humans
• Investigating the effects of drugs, toxins, and temperature on the rate of respiration
• Studying the respiration of plant tissues and seed germination

See Also

• Spirometer
• Metabolism
• Cellular respiration

References

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