photosynthesis Flashcards
What are the two stages of photosynthesis
- light dependent stage
- light independent stage
What is the overall equation for photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
phosphorylation
the synthesis of ATP from ADP and Pi (inorganic phosphate) using light energy
Give an overview of the light dependent stage
where light energy is converted into chemical energy as the photolysis of water releases protons and electrons whcih poduce ATP via phosphorylation and reduce the co enxyme NADP
Give an overview of the light independent stage
- calvin cycle where ATP and NADPH from the light dependent reaction reduce carbon dioxide to produce glucose
How is the leaf adapted for gas exchange and phtosynthesis
- havign a large surface area allowing the leaf to capture light and having pores called stomate through which gases diffuse
- the air spaces between cells allow for carbon dioxide to diffuse to the photosynthesising cells
- highest concentration of chloroplasts isfound in the palisade mesophyll on the leafs upper surface
- palisade cells are arranges veritcally which allows more light to be absorbed by chlorplasts than if they were stacked horizontally as light only has to pass through cuticle and epidermal cells and one palisade cell wall
Describe adaptation of chloroplast to help with photosynthesis
- chloroplasts have a large surface area for the maximum absorption of light
- they are also able to move within palisade cells to maximise the absorption of light
transudcers
change energy from one form into another
Describe how the site of photosynthesis was detected
- englemann in 1887
- he shone a light through a prism to seperate the different wavelengths of light and exposed this to a suspension of algae with evenly distributed motile aerobic bacteria
- after a preiod of time he noticed that the bacteria congregated around the algae exposed to blue and red wavelengths
- this was because this algae photsynthesised more and so produced more oxygen attracting the motile bacteria
How are chloroplasts act as transducers
- as transducer chloroplasts can change energy from one form into another is this case light energy into chemical energy
What are the two main pigments in flowering plants and give examples
- chlorophylls which absorb red and blue - violet regions of the spectrum - chorophyll a and chlorophyll b
- carotenoids which absorb light energy from the blue violet region of the spectrum b carotene and xanthrophylls and act as accessory pigments
What is the advantage of chlorophylls having several photsynthetic pigements
- allow the plant to absorb a wider range of wavelengths of light than a single pigment
absorption spectrum
a graph that shows how much light energy is absorbed at different wavelenghts
action spectrum
- a graph that shows the rate of photosynthesis at different wavelengths
Describe what an absorption spectrum indicates and does not indicate
- show how much light energy a particular pigmen absorbs at different wavelengths for example chlorophyll a which absorbs red and blue violet regions of the spectrum
- it does not indicate wether the particular wavelength is used in photosynthesis
What does an action spectrum indicate
- shows the rate of photoynthesis at different wavelengths by measuring the mass of carbohydrates synthesised by plants