Exam 3: Photosynthesis Flashcards
photosynthesis
the process by which light energy is converted into chemical energy
mesophyll
the chlorplastic parenchyma tissue where photosynthesis occurs; located between the two outer tissues of the leaf
bundle-sheath cell
photosynthetic cells packed into tight sheaths that protect leaf veins
mesophyll cell
photosynthetic cells associated with bundle sheath cells;
stoma
a pore formed by two guard cells in the epidermis of a plant that allows for gas exchange
thylakoid
a membrane-bound compartment where the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis take place; form stacks called grana
stroma
the colorless liquid found within a chloroplast that surrounds the grana
chlorophyll
a green pigment found in plant cells that allows plants to collect light energy for use in photosynthesis
carotenoid
a yellow-orange pigment found in plant cells that absorb blue light for use in photosynthesis
electromagnetic spectrum
the range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, starting with short gamma waves and ending with long radio waves
wavelength
the distance between each repeat of the wave’s shape
absorption spectrum
the variation in the amount of light absorbed at different wavelengths
action spectrum
the variation in how effective light is at driving photosynthesis at different wavelengths
visible light
the range of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to human eye
photon
the basic unit of light; contains energy utilized in photosynthesis
spectrophotometer
measures wavelengths of length