Chapter 11 - Photosynthesis Flashcards
how does energy enter plants
the energy in light is absorbed by chlorophyll and transferred into chemical energy during photosynthesis
where does photosynthesis take place
chloroplasts
how are leaves adapted for photosynthesis 8
- a large surface area to absorb sunlight
- an arrangement that prevents overlapping and so shadowing of other leaves
- thin for a short diffusion pathway
- transparent cuticle to let light through to the palisade mesophyll cells
- upper mesophyll cells full of chloroplasts
- numerous stomata so mesophyll cells are never far from one
- xylem bringing water to leaf cells and phloem bringing food to the roots
- air spaces in the spongy mesophyll for a large surface area
what is the overall equation for photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H20 -light-> C6H1206 + 6O2
what are the three main stages of photosynthesis
capturing light energy
the light dependent reaction
the light independent reaction
what happens in the first stage of photosynthesis
light energy is captured in the chlorophyll of the chloroplasts to make ATP and photolysis water
what happens in the second stage of photosynthesis
light breaks the bonds in chlorophyll causing water molecules to split by photolysis into protons, electrons and oxygen
what are the products of the light-dependent reaction
reduced NADP, ATP and oxygen
what happens in the third stage of photosynthesis
protons are used to produce sugars and other organic molecules
how long are chloroplasts typically
2-10 micrometres
what type of membrane can be found in chloroplasts
a double membrane
what are the two distinct regions in a chloroplasts
the grand and storm
what is the stroma
a fluid filled matrix containing starch grains. also where the light independent stage takes place
what are the grana
stacks of up to 100 thylakoid structures which contain chlorophyll. also where the light-dependent stage takes place
what happens when a substance is oxidised
gains oxygen, loses hydrogen or electrons
what happens when a substance is reduced
loses oxygen, gains hydrogen or electrons
what is the metabolic pathway
a series of small reactions caused by enzymes