In the experiment with the Elodea plant, several factors affected the number of energy storage molecules it could produce through photosynthesis:

• Light intensity: Higher light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis, resulting in more energy storage molecules being made. This is because chlorophyll absorbs light energy, which drives the production of ATP and NADPH needed for synthesizing carbohydrates

• Carbon dioxide concentration: Adequate CO2 levels are essential for the Calvin cycle to fix carbon into sugars. Increasing CO2 concentration can enhance the production of energy storage molecules such as glucose and starch

• Temperature: Photosynthesis depends on enzymatic reactions that function optimally within a certain temperature range. Temperatures too low or too high can reduce the efficiency of photosynthesis and thus the amount of energy storage molecules produced

• Availability of water: Water is a raw material for photosynthesis and also provides electrons during the light reactions. Insufficient water limits photosynthesis and decreases energy storage molecule synthesis

Additional factors sometimes considered include light color (wavelength) and pH, which can also influence photosynthesis rates but are less commonly emphasized in basic Elodea experiments

. In summary, the main factors affecting the number of energy storage molecules the Elodea plant can make in the experiment are light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature, and water availability