Photosynthesis Flashcards
What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H2O -sunlight-> C6H12O6 + 6O2
What organisms can undertake photosynthesis?
Plants, algae, and cyanobacteria
What does the wax cover on leaves do?
Protects the leaf and retains water
What are mesophyll cells?
They are cells inside the leaves. They contain large amounts of chloroplasts.
What are the two co-enzymes?
ATP and NADPH
What are the main parts of a chloroplast?
Thylakoid disk, granum, outer membrane, intermembrane space, stroma, inner membrane
Where do the light reaction and dark reactions happen?
Light-dependent: Thylakoid
Light-independent: Stroma
What is the light independent stage called?
The Calvin cycle
How does carbon dioxide enter the leaf?
Diffuses into leaf through the stomata
How does water enter the leaf?
From the roots, water is transported through the xylem to the leaves
What is glucose used for?
Used in cellular respiration,
energy or to make cellulose.
How does oxygen enter leaf and what is it used for?
Diffuses out of the leaf via the stomata and used in respiration
How does light reaction happen?
- Light strikes the chlorophyll, and 2 electrons are transferred from one molecule to another via electron transport chain.
- Hydrogen ions are bought into the thylakoid space.
- Enzyme splits water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen. Once two oxygen atoms join, O2 leaves and hydrogen ions stay in thylakoid space.
- Light strikes again, electrons load onto NADP+ and H+ to make NADPH.
Why is it called a dark reaction?
Happens in presence of light, but doesn’t need it.
What happens in the dark reaction stage?
6CO2 molecules from the atmosphere + ATP + NADPH is converted to glucose. 6 turns of Calvin cycle to make 1 glucose.
How many turns of the Calvin cycle does it take to make glucose?
6
Steps of photosynthesis?
- Sunlight excites electron
- Water absorbed through xylem and split into H and O2 (donates an electron)
- Excited electron and H+ ion create ATP and NADPH
- Oxygen released
- CO2 enters cyclic reaction after being diffused into leaf through stomata
- Carbon undergoes reactions with ATP and NADPH to create carbon-based molecules
- Carbon molecule, ATP and NADPH creates glucose.
What is endosymbiosis?
Cyanobacteria contains chlorophyll. Chloroplasts are descendants of cyanobacteria which were engulfed by eukaryotes 2 billion years ago. Cyanobacteria slowly progressed to chloroplasts.
What is photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is the process of capturing light energy to power the production of glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water
What is the process called when oxygen moves within the chloroplast?
Light-independent stage
Why don’t animals use the same anaerobic respiration process as fungi?
Fungi and plants do not require lactic acid, but instead, require ethanol.
What source of energy is needed to combine ADP and Pi to make ATP?
Sunlight
What is the role of glucose in the body?
- main source of energy that drives their metabolic reactions (respiration)
- building block for cellulose synthesis
How is glucose stored in animals vs plants?
Animals: Glycogen
Plants: Starch
