6 Photosynthesis Flashcards
What do all life forms need constantly to survive?
constant of energy.
What are heterotrophs, such as animals, also called?
Consumers
How do heterotrophs get their energy?
By eating other organisms (organic molecules).
Through what process do heterotrophs make energy?
Respiration
What are autotrophs, such as plants, also called?
Producers
How do autotrophs produce their own energy?
By converting sunlight into energy
What do autotrophs build from carbon dioxide (CO2)?
Organic molecules, such as carbohydrates (CHO) - primarily glucose (C6H12O6)
Through what process do autotrophs make energy and synthesize sugars?
Photosynthesis
What do heterotrophs do with the energy and organic molecules produced by autotrophs?
They consume and use them to make their own energy.
Write the chemical equation for heterotrophs making energy.
Glucose (C6H12O6) + oxygen (6O2) → carbon dioxide (6CO2) + water (6H2O) + energy (ATP
What type of reaction occurs when heterotrophs make energy, and is it exergonic or endergonic?
Oxidation, which is exergonic.
Write the chemical equation for autotrophs producing energy.
Carbon dioxide (6CO2) + water (6H2O) + light energy → glucose (C6H12O6) + oxygen (6O2).
What type of reaction occurs when autotrophs produce energy, and is it exergonic or endergonic?
Reduction, which is endergonic.
How are heterotrophs and autotrophs connected in the energy cycle?
Heterotrophs obtain energy and organic molecules from autotrophs, while autotrophs produce energy and organic molecules through sunlight.
What elements do plants need to get from the environment? (8)
- Carbon (C)
- Hydrogen (H)
- Oxygen (O)
- Nitrogen (N)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Potassium (K)
- Sulfur (S)
- Magnesium (Mg).
What organic molecules do plants produce for growth? (4)
- Carbohydrates
- proteins
- lipids
- nucleic acids
Leaves act as solar collectors, capturing sunlight.
Leaves
What is the role of leaves in plants?
Leaves act as solar collectors, capturing sunlight.
Through what structure do plants exchange gases like CO2?
Stomates
How do plants obtain water?
Through uptake from the roots.
What nutrients are absorbed by plants from the roots? (6)
- Nitrogen (N)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Potassium (K)
- Sulfur (S)
- Magnesium (Mg)
- Iron (Fe), and others.
What are the components of the chloroplast structure in plants? (4)
- Double membrane
- stroma (fluid-filled interior)
- thylakoid sacs
- grana stacks
What is contained within the thylakoid membrane? (3)
- Chlorophyll molecules
- electron transport chain
- ATP synthase
What is the function of the H+ gradient within the thylakoid sac?
To drive ATP synthase for ATP production.
What are the two (2) main stages of photosynthesis?
- Light reactions (light-dependent)
- Calvin cycle (light-independent)
What do light-dependent reactions convert?
Solar energy into chemical energy (ATP and NADPH).
Use chemical energy (ATP & NADPH) to reduce CO2 and synthesize glucose (C6H12O6).
Calvin cycle
Transport electrons through proteins in the organelle membrane.
Electron Transport Chain (ETC)
What is the final electron acceptor in the light reactions?
NADPH
What forms across the inner membrane during light reactions?
A proton (H+) gradient.
What enzyme is responsible for producing ATP during light reactions?
ATP synthase
Where do light reactions occur in the chloroplast?
Across the thylakoid membrane
What does the Calvin cycle require to build sugars? (3)
- ATP
- NADPH
- carbon dioxide (CO2)
What is the main difference between the ETC in respiration and photosynthesis?
- Respiration uses NADH as the electron carrier
- photosynthesis uses NADPH as the electron carrier
How is ATP generated in both photosynthesis and respiration? (4)
- By moving electrons
- running a proton pump
- building a proton gradient
- driving protons through ATP synthase, which bonds Pi to ADP to generate ATP.
What powers the movement of electrons in photosynthesis?
Sunlight
What powers the movement of electrons in respiration?
The breakdown of glucose (C6H12O6).
What does ATP synthase do in both processes (ETC in respiration and photosynthesis)?
It allows protons (H+) to flow through, driving the synthesis of ATP by bonding Pi to ADP.
What is the ultimate product of the ETC in both photosynthesis and respiration?
ATP
Which pigment absorbs light best for photosynthesis?
chlorophyll a
In which wavelengths does chlorophyll a absorb light most efficiently? Which wavelength of light is absorbed the least?
- Red and blue wavelengths.
- Green
have different structures and absorb light of different wavelengths to aid in photosynthesis.
accessory pigments