Photosynthesis Flashcards
What is photolysis?
Splitting of a molecule using light energy.
What is photophosphorylation?
Process of adding a phosphate to a molecule using light energy.
What is photoionisation?
Process of turning an atom/molecule into an ion using light energy.
What is an electrochemical gradient?
Conc gradient of ions.
What is a photoautotroph?
Organisms that use light energy to synthesise organic molecules during photosynthesis.
What is a heterotroph?
Organisms that obtain organic materials from plants to supply energy and nutrients it needs.
What is a producer?
Organism that synthesises biomass using energy from the environment in 1st trophic level of food chain.
What is a photoautotroph?
Organisms that use light energy to synthesise organic molecules in photosynthesis.
What is a heterotroph?
Orgasims that obtain organic material from plants for energy + nutrients.
What is the compensation point?
Point photosynthesis and respiration are at the same rate.
No net change of carbs.
What is the compensation period?
The time taken for the plant to reach the compensation point.
What is the structure and function of different parts of a chloroplast?
PS have pigments, electron carriers, ATP synthase
Thylakoid stacks = large SA - within, photosystems bound to proteins
Stroma surrounds grant = contains enzymes for LDR
Stroma has small ribosomes - assemble proteins for photosynthesis
Chloroplast has large SA + 3 compartments for conc and electrochemical gradients
What is a photosynthetic pigment?
Can absorb specific wavelengths of light and trap energy associated with the light.
What are accessory pigments?
Funnel energy associated with light wavelengths down to primary pigment reaction centre
made of chlorophyll a
in walls of funnel, made of chlorophyll b and carotenoids
What is chlorophyll a?
Most abundant, P680, P700, absorbs light around 440 nm