Chapter 5: Photosynthesis

Question 1

photosynthesis

Answer 1

an autotrophic process that uses light energy and simple molecules to make carbohydrates

Question 2

carbon fixation

Answer 2

the incorporation of carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) into organic molecules such as carbohydrates

Question 3

photolysis

Answer 3

the first part of photosynthesis in which light energy splits water molecules

Question 4

granum

Answer 4

a stack of thylakoids, which function in the light reaction of photosynthesis

Question 5

thylakoid

Answer 5

a flat sac in the chloroplast, which converts light energy to chemical energy

Question 6

light-harvesting antennae

Answer 6

groups of pigments that help capture energy from light in a photosystem and pass the light to the reaction center

Question 7

stroma

Answer 7

the fluid surrounding the grana inside the chloroplast

Question 8

pigment

Answer 8

a substance that is able to absorb light

Question 9

action spectrum

Answer 9

shows the effectiveness of different wavelengths of light on photosynthesis

Question 10

absorption spectrum

Answer 10

plots the absorbance against the wavelength of light for a specific pigment

Question 11

carotenoids

Answer 11

a chemical that aids in light absorption for photosynthesis where chlorophyll a and b cannot pick up light

Question 12

photoelectric effect/photoexcitation

Answer 12

light’s ability to elevate electrons to a more excited state

Question 13

discrete quanta

Answer 13

unconnected distinct amounts (i.e. photon: a particle of light)

Question 14

ground state

Answer 14

the natural energy state of an electron

Question 15

reaction center

Answer 15

the location of the chlorophyll a molecule that will lose an excited electron in a photosystem

Question 16

photosystem

Answer 16

a light-harvesting group of pigments

Question 17

NADPH reductase

Answer 17

the enzyme that reduces NADP to NADPH + H

Question 18

a primary electron acceptor

Answer 18

chlorophyll a’s electron can only be passed to . . .

Question 19

ferredoxin

Answer 19

a membrane protein that gains an electron during photosystem I

Question 20

cyclic electron flow

Answer 20

occurs when there is a buildup up NADPH, resulting in electrons being passed down a transport chain and eventually forming ATP

Question 21

photophosphorylation

Answer 21

the production of ATP from cyclic electron flow

Question 22

rubisco

Answer 22

an enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the Calvin cycle

Question 23

C3 plants

Answer 23

plants that obtain a 3-carbon molecule as the result of carbon fixation

Question 24

C4 plants

Answer 24

plants that obtain a 4-carbon molecule as the result of carbon fixation

Question 25

bundle sheath cell

Answer 25

a distinct type of cell found in C4 plants that is arranged around the veins of the leaf. The Calvin cycle occurs in the chloroplast of these cells.

Question 26

CAM plants

Answer 26

plants that produce organic acids from CO2 at night, and release CO2 in the day

Question 27

halophile

Answer 27

an organism that can grow in saline conditions

Question 28

bacteriorhodopsin

Answer 28

a light-absorbing chemical found in bacteria that functioned as an antenna in Archaea which aided in the production of ATP