Chapter 6: Photosynthesis

Question 1

Photon

Answer 1

A packet of light.

Question 2

Photosynthesis

Answer 2

carbon dioxide + water + energy > glucose + oxygen

CO2 + H2O + energy = C6H12O6 + O2

Question 3

Chlorophyll

Answer 3

The light-absorbing green-coloured pigment that begins the process of photosynthesis.
Reflects green light.
Absorbs blue and red light.

Question 4

Chlorophyll A

Answer 4

Blue-green
Primary light abosrbing pigment
Transforms solar energy into reactions of photosynthesis

Question 5

Chlorophyll B

Answer 5

Yellow-green
Accessory pigment
Transfers the energy back to a molecule of chlorophyll A

Question 6

Chloroplast

Answer 6

A membrane-bound organelle in green plant and algal cells that carries out photosynthesis.

Question 7

Stroma

Answer 7

The proten-rich semiliquid material in the interior of a chloroplast.

Question 8

Thylakoid

Answer 8

A system of interconnected flattened membrane sacks forming a separate compartment within the stroma of a chloroplast.

Question 9

Grana

Answer 9

Stacks of thylakoids.

Question 10

Lamellae

Answer 10

Groups of unstacked thylakoids between grana.

Question 11

Thylakoid Membrane

Answer 11

The photosynthetic membrane within a chloroplast that contains light-gathering pigment molecules and electron trasnport chains.

Question 12

Thylakoid Lumen

Answer 12

The fluid-filled space inside a thylakoid.

Question 13

ATP

Answer 13

A molecule containing three high-energy phosphate bonds that acts as the primary energy-transferring molecule in living organisms.

Question 14

ADP

Answer 14

A molecule containing two high-energy phosphate bonds that may be formed by breaking one of the phosphate bonds in ATP.

Question 15

NADP+

Answer 15

A compound that accepts one hydrogen atom and two electrons, forming NADPH; is an electron acceptor.

Question 16

NADPH

Answer 16

A compound that donates one hydrogen atom and two electrons to another molecule, to reform NADP+; is an electron donor.

Question 17

Light-Dependent Reactions

Answer 17

The first set of reactions of photosynthesis in which light energy exites electrons in chlorophyll molecules, powers chemiosmotic ATP synthesis, and results in the reduction of NADP to NADPH.

Photolysis, Electron transport chains (NADP > NADPH), and chemiosmosis

Question 18

Carbon Fixation

Answer 18

The process of incorporating CO2 into carbohydrate molecules.

Question 19

Calvin Cycle

Answer 19

A cyclic set of reactions occurring in the stroma of chloroplasts that fixes the carbon of CO2 into carbohydrate molecules and recycles coenzymes.

ATP + NADPH > G3P; glucose; starches and sucrose

Question 20

Light-Independent Reactions

Answer 20

The second set of reactions in photosynthesis (the Calvin cycle); these reactions do not require solar energy.

Question 21

Photosystem

Answer 21

A cluster of photosynthetic pigments embedded in a thylakoid membrane of a chloroplast that absorbs light energy.

Question 22

Electron Transport Chain

Answer 22

A series of progressively stronger electron acceptors; each time an electron is transferred, energy is released.

Question 23

Photolysis

Answer 23

A chemical reaction in which a compound is broken down by light. In photosynthesis, water molecules are split by photolysis.

Question 24

Oxidation

Answer 24

A reaction in which an atom or molecule loses electrons.

Question 25

Reduction

Answer 25

A reaction in which an atom or molecule gains electrons.

Question 26

ATP Synthase Complex

Answer 26

A specialized protein complex embedded in the thylakoid membrane that allows H ions to escape from the lumen and uses the resulting energy to generate ATP.

Question 27

Chemiosmosis

Answer 27

A process for synthesizing ATP using the energy of an electrochemical gradient and the ATP synthase enzyme.