Introduction to photosynthesis Flashcards

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1
Q

What does photo mean?

A

light

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1
Q

what is photosynthesis?

A

It is the process whereby light energy from the sun is transformed into chemical energy and used to synthesise large organic molecules from smaller, inorganic substances

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2
Q

what does synthesis mean?

A

Making something

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3
Q

what is the chemical equation for photosynthesis ?

A

6C02 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2

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4
Q

what is the equation for photosynthesis ?

A

Carbon dioxide + water -> glucose + oxygen

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5
Q

What is Van Helmont’s experiment ?

A
  • He grew a willow tree in a tub for 5 years
  • weighted the mass of the tree and the soil in the beginning and end of the experiment
  • this demonstrated that something is being incorporated into the biomass of the tree causing it to increase its mass
  • the substance is not being derived from soil
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6
Q

What did Van Helmont conclude?

A
  • That the increase in mass was the mass of the added water.
  • This is partly true but later it was shown that carbon dioxide was also contributing to the increase in mass
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7
Q

So why did some of the soil gain mass in Van Helmont’s experiment?

A
  • in order to make proteins it is necessary for the plant to accquire nitrogen in the form of nitrates.
  • these are obtained from the soil along with other minerals which accounts for the slight loss of mass from the soil noted after 5 years
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8
Q

Is a willow tree a hetertroph or autotroph? Why?

A
  • heterotroph
  • energy was required for the conversions of small in organic molecules into larger organic molecules.
  • energy was in the form of light
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9
Q

what happens to energy releases by the oxidation reactions?

A

it is used by the bacteria to manufacture their own food

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10
Q

what happens to the nitrates absorbed by green plants?

A
  • Nitrogen is incorporated by green plants and nitrogen is incorporated into nitrogen-containing organic compounds
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11
Q

what is an electron transport chain?

A

electrons flowing through proteins in a membrane

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