Photosynthesis 1

Question 1

What is photosynthesis

Answer 1

Photosynthesis is a metabolic pathway that converts light energy into chemical energy for synthesis of carbohydrate

Question 2

Where are chloroplasts found and what do they contain?

Answer 2

Mesophyll layer of leaf
Contain chlorophyll

Question 3

Describe the structure of a chloroplast:

Answer 3

A chloroplast has an envelope of two membranes surrounding a dense fluid called the stroma
Thylakoids are connected sacs in the chloroplast which compose a third membrane system
Thylakoids may be stacked in columns called grana
Chlorophyll, the pigment which gives leaves their green colour, resides in the thylakoid membranes

Question 4

What is the photosynthesis equation?

Answer 4

6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Question 5

What is a spectrophotometer ?

Answer 5

Measures a pigment’s ability to absorb various wavelengths
This machine sends light through pigments and measures the fraction of light transmitted at each wavelength

Question 6

What is the difference between an absorption spectrum and an action spectrum?

Answer 6

An absorption spectrum is a graph plotting a pigment’s light absorption versus wavelength
An action spectrum profiles the relative effectiveness of different wavelengths of radiation in driving a process

Question 7

What are carotenoids?

Answer 7

Involved in photoprotection
Absorb light that would otherwise damage chlorophyll.

Question 8

What is the main photosynthetic pigment?

Answer 8

Chlorophyll a

Question 9

What is a photosystem?

Answer 9

consists of a reaction-center complex (a type of protein complex) surrounded by light-harvesting complexes

Question 10

What is a light harvesting complex?

Answer 10

pigment molecules bound to proteins that transfer the energy of photons to the reaction center