Photosynthesis Flashcards
(41 cards)
How many cell membranes does a chloroplast have? names?
3, outer membrane, inner membrane, thylakoid membrane
What is photosynthesis?
The synthesis of organic compounds from inorganic as a result of the fixation & reduction of carbon dioxide using light energy
What type of nutrition is photosynthesis?
Autotrophic nutrition
What does photosynthesis occur in?
All plants, many protoctists, some prokaryotes (bacteria)
Where do light dependent reactions take place?
Thylakoid Membrane
Where do light independent reactions take place?
Stroma
Why is the upper epidermis transparent?
for maximum light absorption
why are the long sides of palisade cells exposed to intercellular spaces?
for rapid uptake of carbon dioxide
why do palisade cells have thin cell walls?
so there is a short diffusion pathway
Why are palisade cells columnar shaped?
so the cross wall effect is reduced and therefore maximum light penetration is obtained
what does the cytoplasm of palisade cell contain lots of? and why?
Chloroplasts for maximum photosynthesis
What colour does chlorophyll show?
green
what colour does carotenes show?
reds
what colour does xanthophylls show?
yellows
what are the absorbance peaks of chlorophyll a?
420 & 660
what are the absorbance peaks of chlorophyll b?
435 & 643
what is the absorbance peaks of ß carotenes?
425 to 480
what is the function of pigments?
to absorb light energy
why are there so many pigment types?
to enable absorption of light energy from a wider range of wavelengths
what does an absorption spectrum show?
the wavelengths of light energy absorbed by pigments
what does an action spectrum show?
the rate of photosynthesis at different wavelengths
what is chromotography?
technique used to separate substances in a mixture, relies on molecular size and solubility in solvent, small molecules/more suluble move faster/further
what is the equation for r.f. values?
(distance moved by substance) / (distance moved by solvent front)
what do light dependent reactions produce?
ATP by cyclic & non-cyclic photophosphorylation, reduced NADP