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Conclusion |
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In this experiment, the effects of antioxidants on germinating seeds exposed to free radicals (hydrogen peroxide) were studied. It was determined in the experiment that among vitamin A, E, and C, vitamins with antioxidant properties, vitamin A consistently allowed the largest percentage of germination to occur. This was proven both with the radish and been seed trials. Vitamin C was consistently the vitamin that germinated the smallest percentage of seeds. The beneficial antioxidant effects of vitamin E are often publicized, and in the hypothesis it was speculated that vitamin E would be the best antioxidant. However, this assumption has been receiving a lot of attention, as more recent studied have indicated that vitamin E might not have all of the benefits attributed to it earlier. Many variables are involved in seed germination. Although there were some inconsistencies between the radish and bean seed trials, it is quite likely that there were other factors in the experiment that were not firstly anticipated. The main discrepancy was that hydrogen peroxide germinated the least radish seeds, while germinating the most bean seeds. Possible explanations of this can be found in the discussion. However, the most important part of this, and all of the other small incongruities in the experiment, was actually overcoming them, and learning about the sometimes frustrating but rewarding processes of conducting innovative science experiments. In science experiments in general, it is not uncommon that results will either be unexpected, or difficult to interpret. This experiment was also successful in demonstrating the adverse, chain-reactive effects of free radicals, the beneficial protective effects of antioxidants, the theory that vitamin C readily oxidizes when exposed to air, that depending on the dose of the vitamin its effects may be contradictory, and that there are numerous factors that influence seed germination.
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