chapter 8: photosynthesis Flashcards
what is photosynthesis?
the process that converts solar energy into chemical energy (high energy compounds - ex. glucose)
what organisms do photosynthesis?
plants, algae, protists, and some prokaryotes
what are the two types of organisms?
autotrophs and heterotrophs
what are autotrophs?
organisms that sustain themselves without eating anything derived from other organisms. they are the producers of the biosphere, producing organic molecules from CO2 and other inorganic molecules.
what do organisms with limited access to sunlight use?
chemosynthesis - use a certain type of chemical to create glucose, it’s used for energy
what are heterotrophs?
organisms obtain their organic material from other organisms. heterotrophs are the consumers of the biosphere. almost all heterotrophs, including humans, depend on photoautotrophs for food and O2
what are photoautotrophs?
use energy of sunlight to make organic molecules - ex. plants
why do we need glucose?
as a source of carbon and high energy
why do we need O2?
as a final e- acceptor
what is the structure of photosynthetic cells?
enzymes and other molecules grouped together in a membrane
why is the structure of photosynthetic cells beneficial?
this organization allows for chemical reactions of photosynthesis to proceed efficiently
what did chloroplasts most likely evolve from? why?
from photosynthetic cells as the structure is similar
what is the major location for photosynthesis?
leaves
what are choloroplasts?
little organelles that contain chlorophyll. chloroplasts are mainly in cells of the mesophyll
what is chlorophyll?
green pigment
what is the mesophyll?
the interior tissue of the leaf
how many chloroplasts does one mesophyll cell have?
30-40
does every cell have chloroplasts?
no
does the waxy cover have chloroplasts?
no
where do CO2 molecules enter and O2 molecules leave from?
microscopic pores called stomata. stomata are opening which are regulated by guard cells
what is chlorophyll in?
the membrane of thylakoids - connected sacs in the chloroplast (little disks)
what are multiple thylakoids stacked together called?
grana
what is stroma?
a dense interior fluid
what is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy –> C6H12O6 + 6O2
what happens to the e- in photosynthesis compared to respiration?
the direction of e- flow is reversed
is photosynthesis a redox process?
yes
what is reduced in photosynthesis?
6CO2 and C6H12O6
what is oxidized in photosynthesis?
6H2O and 6O2
is photosynthesis endergonic or exergonic?
endergonic; the energy boost is provided by light
what are the two parts of photosynthesis?
the light reactions (photo part) and the calvin cycle (synthesis part)