Photosynthesis

Question 1

What is an autotroph?

Answer 1

An organism which makes complex organic compounds from simple inorganic compounds

Question 2

What is a heterotroph?

Answer 2

An organism that obtains complex organic compounds by feeding on other organisms or their dead remains

Question 3

What are the parts of a chloroplast?

Answer 3

-Chloroplast Envelope = double membrane
-Ribosomes
-Circular DNA
-Granum = stack of thylakoid membranes
-Thylakoid Membranes = form the grana, is the site of light-dependant reactions
-Starch Grain = insoluble carbohydrate storage product of photosynthesis
-Stroma = matrix of chloroplasts, site of light-independent reactions
-Lipid Droplet = energy store made from the sugars produced during photosynthesis

Question 4

What is a photon?

Answer 4

Light travels in packages called photons which contain a mixture of different wavelengths of light

Question 5

Why does not all of the sunlight that lands on a plant get turned into sugar by photosynthesis?

Answer 5

-Some of the light misses the chloroplasts
-Some of the light is reflected from the surface of leaves
-Some of the light goes right through the leaf
-Some of the radiations are transmitted as heat
-Some of the light is the wrong wavelength

Question 6

What are pigments in the chlorophyll?

Answer 6

Chlorophyll is a mixture of closely related pigments
-Chlorophyll A = blue/green
-Chlorophyll B = yellow/green
-Cartenoids = orange carotene and yellow xanthophyll
-Phaeophytin = grey