Photosynthesis Flashcards
What does the flat shape of a leaf do?
Gives the leaf a larger surface area for trapping sunlight
Why do leaves pivot on their stems?
To change position relative to the sun for photosynthesis
Benefits of a thin leaf
Allows light waves to easily pass through
What does the xylem do?
It is the water conduction component of vascular tissue, transports water from soil/roots to the leaves.
What is a plastid?
A specialised organelle containing pigment to trap light energy.
What organelles are the site of photosynthesis?
Plastids
What is the main type of plastid?
Chloroplast
What pigment does the chloroplast have?
Chlorophyll which is a green pigment
What are chloroplasts?
Oval-shaped membrane bound organelles.
What is the the inner membrane of a chloroplast like?
It is highly folded to produce thylakoid stacks.
What is the purpose of the heavy folds in the inner membrane of a chloroplast?
To increase surface area for chemical reactions of photosynthesis.
What are grana?
Stacks of thylakoid membranes which contain green pigment chlorophyll.
What is stroma?
The dense liquid interior of the chloroplast.
What does the stroma contain?
Numerous different enzymes needed for photosynthesis
Where is the site of light dependant phase of photosynthesis? (Energy capture)
Grana
What is the location of the light independant phase of photosynthesis? (Calvin cycle)
Stroma
What are lamellae?
membranes joining grana stacks.
What do lamellae do?
Provide structure to the chloroplast interior.
What are palisade cells?
Large rectangular cells found regularly and tightly packed in a single or double layer.
Where are palisade cells found?
Under the upper epidermal layer of leaf.
What are products of photosynthesis?
Glucose, Cellulose, Starch and Disaccharides
What is the function of a cyclic pathway?
To produce a substrate that will be used again and again
What transform sunlight energy into chemical energy.?
Photosynthesis
What’s the Calvin cycle?
Light independant reactions of photosynthesis
What is photolysis?
One of the key stages in the light dependant stage reactions where water is split into hydrogen ions and oxygen molecules.
What else happens in the light dependant stage besides the splitting of water?
Molecules of ATP and NADPH are produced and sent to the next stage of PS.
What is NADP?
A coenzyme that becomes NADPH and carries the charged H+ ions to the next section.
Where does the L.I.R occur?
The stroma
What is needed to convert CO2 to a 6 carbon sugar?
NADPH + ATP
What is rubisco?
The enzyme that catalyses the reaction of RUBP+CO2
What is ribulose biphosphate?
A 5 carbon compound that binds with CO2 at the beginning of the Calvin cycle
What is carbon fixation?
the process where carbon dioxide molecules in the chloroplasts are joined with RuBp to start the processes in the Calvin cycle
Where does aerobic respiration occur?
In the mitochondria of plants.
What does aerobic respiration mean?
O2 is taken up and CO2 is released.
What is the first stage of cellular respiration?
Glycolysis
Where does glycolysis happen?
Cytoplasm
What is the process of glycolysis?
Glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate?
What is the second stage of C.R?
Activation of pyruvate to acetyl CoA
Where does the activation of pyruvate to acetyl CoA occur?
In the mitochondrial matrix.
What is the third stage of C.R?
the Krebs Cycle
Where does the Krebs cycle happen?
The mitochondrial matrix
What is the process of the Krebs cycle?
Series of reactions producing carbon dioxide, ATP and hydrogens/
What’s the fourth stage of C.R?
Oxidative Phosphorylation
Where does oxidative phosphorylation occur?
Cistae
What is the process of oxidative phosphorylation?
H2 is oxidised to water using energy released as ATP.
What’s the equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 12H2O —–> C6 H12 O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
What is photolysis?
Water being split
What is photophosphorylation?
the synthesis of ATP from ADP and phosphate that occurs in a plant using radiant energy absorbed during photosynthesis.
What is glycolysis?
The glucose being broken down into two molecules of pyruvate
What is the link reaction?
Pyruvate being split and added to coenzyme A ready to enter the Krebs cycle.
What is the Krebs cycle?
A derivative of Pyruvate is decomposed to Co2
What is catabolism?
Catabolism is the set of metabolic pathways that breaks down molecules into smaller units that are either oxidized to release energy, or used in other anabolic reactions.
What is anabolism?
The synthesis of complex molecules in living organisms from simpler ones together with the storage of energy; constructive metabolism.
What is exergonic?
(of a metabolic or chemical process) accompanied by the release of energy.
What is endergonic?
(of a metabolic or chemical process) accompanied by or requiring the absorption of energy, the products being of greater free energy than the reactants.
What are the products of the light dependant phase?
Oxygen, ATP and NADPH
What are the products of the light independent phase?
Glucose, Water
What is ATP synthase?
is an important enzyme that creates the energy storage molecule adenosine triphosphate
What is an autotroph?
an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.
What is a heterotroph?
an organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances.
