3: Photosynthesis

Question 1

What is photosynthesis?

Answer 1

a plant receives light from the sun, carbon dioxide from the air, atmosphere (to leaves) and water from the ground, soil through the roots to produce oxygen (sent to atmosphere) and glucose (type of sugar)

Question 2

What is the chemical equation of photosynthesis?

Answer 2

6CO2 + 6H2O –sunlight (chlorophyll)-> C6H12O6 + 6O2

Question 3

Is glucose an organic molecule?

Answer 3

Yes! Because it contains carbon and hydrogen atoms

Question 4

What is glucose?

Answer 4

• main sugar in the body
• it is energy rich
• energy is stored in the chemical bonds between atoms
• it is used as fuel by most living organisms, and it powers all the cell’s functions
• it can be converted into other, more complex organic molecules

Question 5

What happens to energy in photosynthesis?

Answer 5

• inorganic matter –> organic matter
• solar energy –> chemical energy

Question 6

Who performs photosynthesis? What do all the organisms have in common?

Answer 6

1. plants, cyanobacteria, algae
2. they contain chlorophyll

Question 7

What is chemosynthesis?

Answer 7

bacteria in hydrothermal vents use chemical energy from inorganic compounds to convert inorganic carbon into organic compounds (organisms extract energy from minerals)

Question 8

What are autotrophs?

Answer 8

(self food) organisms that perform photosynthesis or chemosynthesis produce food for themselves and for other organisms

Question 9

What are examples of autotrophs?

Answer 9

plants, cyanobacteria, algae

Question 10

What are heterotrophs?

Answer 10

(other food) organisms that depend on sources than themselves for food

Question 11

What are examples of heterotrophs?

Answer 11

humans, animals, fungi (mushrooms), some Protista (amoeba)