Photosynthesis Flashcards
Photosynthesis word equation
Carbon dioxide + water = Glucose + Oxygen
Photosynthesis balanced equation
6CO2 + 6H2O = C6H12O6 + 6H2O
Explain some uses of ATP
Provides energy for active transport/muscle contraction/protein synthesis
Phosphorylation to bind to enzymes or substrates and either lower activation energy or alter the tertiary structure to make molecules more reactive
Why is ATP useful
Releases small manageable packets of energy so less wasted as heat
Immediate energy source so makes energy available rapidly
Phosphorylates compounds ro make them more reactive or lower activation energy
Can be rapidly resynthesised so cycle is continuous
Large so doesn’t diffuse out of cell
Insoluble so doesn’t affect water potential
What is NADP
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate
Essential molecule acting as a hydrogen acceptor becoming reduced to form NADPH
OILRIG
Oxidation
Is
Loss (of electrons/hydrogen)(gain of oxygen)
Reduction
Is
Gain (of electrons/hydrogen)(loss of oxygen)
What is photosynthesis
Process in which plants absorb a range of different wavelengths of light energy and converts it into chemical potential energy
Simple inorganic molecules converted into organic molecules
Explain the function of chloroplast and list its features
The site of photosynthesis to convert wavelengths of energy to chemical energy
Double membrane Thylakoids Starch grains Stroma Grana (plural) Lamella
Function of double membrane in chloroplast
Inner and outer membrane for support
Function of thylakoid
One of a collection of flatterned membrane bound stacks found in chloroplast containing chlorophyll
Used in LDR
Function of grana
Stacks of thylakoids
Plural = grana
Single = granum
Provide a large surface area for the attachment of photosynthetic pigments
Function of starch grains
Stores starch as energy store of plants
Stroma function
Where the LIR occurs
Converts carbon dioxide and water into organic molecules
Contains enzymes needed for photosynthesis. DNA and RNA
Where does the LDR occur
Thylakoid membrane of chloroplast
Where does the LIR occur
In the stroma of chloroplast
Define photoionisation
Of chlorophyll
Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll molecules embedded in thylakoid membrane
Exciting it’s electrons and raising them to higher energy levels
Chlorophyll is oxidised
Describe photolysis
Of water
Splitting of water molecules by light energy
Providing the low energy electrons to replace those lost from chlorophyll during ohotoionisation
2H2O split by photolysis into 4e-, 4H+ and O2
Describe photophosphorylation
Energised electrons from chlorophyll then lose energy as they pass through the Electron Transport Chain
This energy activates a proton pump to build and electrochemical gradient
Used by ATP synthase to make ATP from ADP and Pi
Describe the Light Dependant Reaction
Chlorophyll absorbs light energy via photoionisation
Exciting electrons so they’re removed from chlorophyll
Electrons move along Electron Transport Chain, releasing energy via a series of REDOX reactions
Energy used to create the electrochemical gradient so H+ ions can diffuse through ATP synthase (photophosphorylation)
Providing energy to join ADP and Pi via ATP synthase to form ATP
Photolysis of water produces (2H2O—>4e-, 4H+, O2)
Electrons lost from chlorophyll replaced
NADP reduced by electrons and hydrogen
Describe the Light Independant Reaction
Carbon dioxide combines with RuBP Catalysed by the enzyme rubisco Producing 2 GP GP reduced to triose phosphate Using reduced NADP Using energy from ATP Triose phosphate converted to glucose, amino acids and lipids Triose phosphate regenerated into RuBP
Why isn’t ATP from the LDR a plants only source of ATP
Plants don’t photosynthesise in the dark
Not all parts of a plant photosynthesise (roots, bark) but still need ATP
Plants require more ATP than they produce in LDR
ATP used in active transport