Photosynthesis Flashcards
What are the reactants and products of photosynthesis?
reactants = CO2 and H2O
products = glucose (C6H12O6) and O2
What is chlorophyll?
chlorophyll supplies the energy used by plants to transform carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and carbohydrates
a pigment responsible for the green color in plants and algae
What are accessory pigments?
light-absorbing compounds, found in photosynthetic organisms, that work in conjunction with chlorophyll A
What is the visible light spectrum?
the range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that the human eye can perceive, typically spanning from around 400 to 700 nm
What is the spectrum gradient of the visible light gradient?
740-625 nm = red
565-520 nm = green
435-380 nm = violet
What is the action spectrum of chlorophyll?
the wavelength of light used in photosynthesis
What is the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll?
cannot absorb 500-600 nm, which gives plants their green color
What variables affect the rate of photosynthesis?
light intensity, carbon dioxide concentrations, and temperature
How do you measure the Rf value?
distance traveled by component/distance traveled by solvent
What are Carbon Dioxide Enrichment Experiments?
Free-Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment is a method used by ecologists and plant biologists that raises the concentration of CO₂ in a specified area and allows the response of plant growth to be measured.
What happens in a light dependent reaction?
uses light energy to split water, producing ATP and the electron carrier NADHP
requieres light and occurs in the grana of chloroplasts
What are photosystems?
protein complexes found within the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts which absorb light energy and transfer it to electrons
What wavelength is photosystem 1 activated at?
700 nm –> known as P700
What wavelength is photosystems 2 activated at?
680 nm –> known as P680
What are the reactants and products of light dependent reactions?
reactants = H20, ADP, and NADP+
products = O2, ATP, and NADPH
What happens in a light independent reaction?
ATP and NADPH molecules are used to form glucose from carbon dioxide in the Calvin Cycle
take place in the stroma
Calvin Cycle Phase 1
Carbon Fixation Process
RuBisCo combines RuBP (a 5-carbon compound) with CO2 forming a 6-carbon compound which immediatly splits into 3-carbon compounds called **glycerate 3 phosphate **
Calvin Cycle Phase 2
Reduction Phase
glycerate 3 phosphate is reduced, using ATP and NADPH from light dependent reactions, to turn into triose phosphate
water is released as a byproduct
Calvin Cycle Phase 3
Regeneration Phase
most of the triose phosphate is used to regenerate RuBP so that the Calvin Cycle can continue
some of the triose is used to produce glucose and other substances
What is triose?
a three carbon monosaccharide (simple sugar)
What is RuBP?
Ribulose Bisphosphate
