Lecture 13: Generation of chemical energy in plants

Question 1

What is the basic chemical equation for photosynthesis?

Answer 1

6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

Question 2

What is Engelmann’s experiment?

Answer 2

Measuring filament of alga grown in the oxygen rich areas created by photosynthesis (across a spectrum of wavelengths).

Question 3

Which two primary pigments are involved in photosynthesis?

Answer 3

chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b.

Question 4

What does a photosystem consist of?

Answer 4

Light harvesting complexes and a reaction center complex.

Question 5

What are the 4 steps of light harvesting in a photosystem?

Answer 5

1. Photon enters
2. Transfer of energy (pigment molecules)
3. Excitation of e- from special chlorophyll (a)
4. This e- is transferred to the primary e- acceptor

Question 6

In the light reactions water has been split and ___ produced, also ___ and ____produced.

___ and ____ produced in the light reactions are used to fix ____ and produce carbohydrate.

Answer 6

In the light reactions water has been split and O2 produced, also ATP and NADPH produced.

ATP and NADPH produced in the light reactions are used to fix CO2 and produce carbohydrate.

Question 7

In the presence of light, proplastids are converted to what?

Answer 7

Chloroplasts

Question 8

Chloroplast development is regulated by _____.

Answer 8

Chloroplast development is regulated by light.