Module 8: Photosynthesis Flashcards
What is photosynthesis?
the conversion of light energy to chemical energy
- photosynthetic organisms build carbohydrates using sunlight and CO2 from the air
- it is a major entry point of energy into biological systems
Supporting Photosynthesis
- photosynthetic organisms in a wide range of environments can carry out photosynthesis, if sunlight is available
- ex: in the ocean photosynthesis occurs in the surface layer about 100m deep, the photic zone
- food webs are supported by the biomass of photosynthetic organisms
What type of reaction is photosynthesis, what does it do and require?
its a redox reaction
- CO2 is reduced to form high energy carbohydrate molecules
- requires energy in the form of sunlight
What are the two stages of photosynthesis?
- Light capture
- Carbon fixation
What is the electron donor in the reaction in photosynthesis?
H2O
The oxidation of water results in the production of what?
Electrons
Protons
O2
Oxidation of water and reduction of CO2 are linked through…
the photosynthetic electron transport train
In photosynthetic eukaryotes both stages take place where?
in the chloroplast
Chloroplasts are _____ & ______
semi-autonomous
self replicating
Makeup of the chloroplast
- bound by 2 membranes separated by a narrow space (outer and inner membrane)
- center of chloroplast highly folded flattened membrane sacs, thylakoid
- space inside thylakoid membrane is a fluid filled space, lumen
- Orderly stacks of thylakoids, grana
- Space surrounding thylakoids, stroma
- carbon fixation occurs here
Photosynthesis balanced chemical reaction
Energy + 6 CO2 + 12 H2O –(light)–> C6H12O6(glucose) + 6 O2 + 6 H2O
Oxidation: 12 H2O to 6 O2
Reduction: 6 CO2 to C6H12O6(glucose)
What are the 2 series of reactions?
- Light-dependent reaction:
- sunlight energy converted into chemical energy, occurs in the thylakoid membranes
- products are ATP and NADPH - Light-independent reaction:
- ATP & NADPH used to synthesize carbohydrates
- occurs in the stroma
How is light absorbed?
energy from the sun is a form of electromagnetic radiation, travels in photons
- when a photon becomes absorbed, the compound is converted to a higher energy state, an excited state
What are the three ways to re-establish ground state?
- Dissipate energy as heat
- Re-emit energy in a longer wavelength, fluorescence
- Transfer energy to another molecules, this is what happens with photosynthetic pigments
What are pigments?
pigments are molecules that contain a chromophore, a chemical group capable of absorbing light of wavelengths
Leaves efficiently absorb what?
the leaf of a green plant efficiently absorbs light energy over most of the spectrum
Why green in plants?
because the pigment chlorophyll is poor at absorbing green wavelengths
Chlorophyll
-major light capturing molecules
- absorb light of blue and red wavelengths
- reflects green wavelengths
What are the two parts of chlorophyll?
Porphyrin ring
- light absorption
- specific atom in center of the ring is Mg
- different side groups on the ring, give different types of chlorophyll
Phytol side chain
- insertion of chlorophyll in lipid bilayer, thylakoid membrane
- hydrocarbon side chain