Biology: Photosynthesis Flashcards
What is the overall reaction for photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide + water —> glucose + oxygen
How does the reaction of photosynthesis compare to the reaction of cellular respiration?
the reactions are complete opposites
Where does the energy for photosynthesis come from?
the sunlight
what plant pigments are involved in photosynthesis?
chlorophyll
Explain why chlorophyll appears green to us in terms of what happens to different wavelengths of light that strike a chlorophyll molecule
chlorophyll reflects green light and absorbs violet-blue light
How does the amount of energy in light change as the wavelength increases
as the wavelength increases, the energy decreases
Which colors of light are most effective for photosynthesis?
blue-violet and orange-red because they can provide energy for photosynthesis
In what organelle of a plant cell does photosynthesis take place?
chloroplast
What are the two stages of photosynthesis?
light reactions and calvin cycle
In which part of the chloroplast does each stage take place?
light reactions take place in thylakoid, and calvin cycle in stroma
What happens to water molecules in the light reactions?
the water splits in half
What photosynthesis waste product is formed in the light reactions?
oxygen
What two products of the light reactions are used up in the Calvin cycle?
NADPH and ATP
What happens to carbon dioxide molecules in the calvin cycle?
carbon dioxide is combined with each other and with electrons and H ions from NADPH to make glucose
How can cells store the sugar that is produced in photosynthesis?
the sugar is produced as starch
Autotroph
organism that makes its own food
Photosynthesis
process by which plants use the suns energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars
Mesophyll
inner tissue of leaf containing chloroplast
Chloroplast
organelle found in plant cells where photosynthesis happens
Chlorophyll
pigment that gives a chloroplast its green color, uses light energy to split water molecules during photosynthesis
Spongy Layer
part of a leaf found between the lower epidermis and the palisade layer. It consists of chloroplasts and parenchyma cells. It is used to store sugars and amino acids.
Stroma
thick fluid contained in the inner membrane of chloroplast
Thylakoid
disk-shape sac in the stroma of a chloroplast, where site of the light reactions of photosynthesis
Palisade layer
a layer of parallel elongated cells below the epidermis of a leaf.
Granum
a stack of thylakoid
Potential Energy
energy stored due to an objects position or arrangement
Upper epidermis
a single-layered group of cells that covers plants’ leaves, flowers, roots and stems. It forms a boundary between the plant and the external environment.
Wavelength
distance between adjacent waves
Electromagnetic Spectrum
range of types of electromagnetic energy from gamma waves to radio waves
Lower epidermis
The under surface of a leaf
Pigment
molecule responsible for color you see, and it absorbs and reflects different wavelengths of light
Photosystem
cluster of chlorophyll and other molecules in a thylakoid
Guard cell
one pair of cells that open and close the stoma of a plant by changing shape, allowing gas exchange with the surrounding air
Light Reaction
chemical reactions that convert the suns energy to chemical energy, take place in the membranes of the thylakoids in chloroplast
Calvin cycle
cycle in plans that makes sugar from carbon dioxide, H+ ions, and high energy electrons carried by NADPH
Stomata
microscopic pores in a leafs surface
Vascular bundle
Where xylem and phloem are
Xylem
carries water
Phloem
carries sugars
Electron Transport chain
sequence of electron carrier molecules that transfer electrons and release energy during cellular reps
Cuticle
waxy coating on leaves and other above ground parts of plants that helps the plant retain water
Phototrophs
does photosynthesis
Light reactions
chemical reactions that convert the suns energy to chemical energy, takes place in the membranes of thylakoids in the chloroplasts
