Photosynthesis Flashcards
What is energy needed for?
Biological processes
Why do plants need energy?
For things like photosynthesis, active transport, DNA replication, cell division and protein synthesis.
Why do animals need energy?
For muscle contraction, maintenance of body temperature, active transport, DNA replication, cell division and protein synthesis.
What is photosynthesis?
The process where energy from light is used to make glucose from H2O and CO2 (the light energy is converted to chemical energy in the form of glucose).
How does photosynthesis produce the oxygen we breathe?
By releasing it from water molecules
What does life depend on?
The continuous transfer of energy
In the plant, what is the energy in light absorbed by?
the chlorophyll
What do non-photosynthetic organisms feed on?
Molecules produced by plants and use them to make ATP during respiration.
What is ATP?
Adenosine triphosphate.
It’s the immediate source of energy in a cell.
Give the specific properties of ATP that make it a good energy source
- Stores and releases only small amount of energy at a time so no energy wasted as heat.
- Small and soluble so easily transported.
- Easily broken down.
- Quickly re-made
- Make other molecules more reactive by transferring one of the Pi groups.
- Can’t pass out of cell so always provides cell with immediate supply of energy.
Why is the energy released from glucose used to make ATP?
- A cell can’t get its energy directly from glucose.
- ATP carries energy around the cell to where it’s needed.
What is ATP synthesised with?
A condensation reaction between ADP and Pi using energy from an energy-releasing reaction.
What is the energy stored as?
Chemical energy in the phosphate bond.
What enzyme catalyses the reaction of ATP into ADP + Pi
ATP snythase
What happens once the ATP diffuses to the part of the cell that’s needed?
It’s hydrolysed back into ADP and Pi.
Chemical energy is released from the phosphate bond and used by the cell.
What enzyme catalyses the reaction of ADP + Pi into ATP?
ATP hydrolase
Where does photosynthesis store energy?
In glucose
What is the overall equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy -> C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2
How do cells release energy from glucose?
By respiration:
- Aerobic respiration - respiration using oxygen
- Anaerobic respiration - respiration without oxygen
What is the equation for aerobic respiration?
C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy
What does anaerobic respiration produce?
in plants = ethanol and carbon dioxide
releases energy
in humans = lactate
releases energy
Definition of metabolic pathway
A series of small reactions controlled by enzymes
Definition of phosphorylation
Adding phosphate to a molecule
Definition of photophosphorylation
adding phosphate to a molecule using light
Definition of photolysis
The splitting (lysis) of a molecule using light (photo) energy
Definition of photoionisation
When light excites electrons in an atom or molecule, giving them more energy and causing them to be released.
The release of electrons causes the atom or molecule to become a positively charged ion.
Definition of hydrolysis
The splitting of a molecule using water
Definition of decarboxylation
The removal of carbon dioxide from a molecule
Definition of dehydrogenation
The removal of hydrogen from a molecule
Definition of redox reactions
Reactions that involve oxidation and reduction
Definition of a co enzyme
A molecule that aids the function of an enzyme.
They work by transferring a chemical group from one molecule to another.
What is the co enzyme used in photosynthesis
NADP (transfers hydrogen from one molecule to another).
What is the co enzyme used in respiration
NAD
FAD
coenzyme A (transfers acetate)
describe the structure of chloroplasts
flattened organelles surrounded by a double membrane.
thylakoids stacked up to form grana which linked by lamellae.
what do chloroplasts contain?
photosynthetic pigments; chloropyll a and b and carotene.
they are coloured substances that absorb light energy for photosynthesis.
where are photosynthetic pigments found?
the pigments are found in the thylakoid membranes - they are attached to proteins.
photosystem meaning
protein and pigment
what are the two photosystems used by plants to capture light energy and the wavelenghts?
- photosystem I (PSI) absorbs light best at a wavelength of 700nm.
- photosystem II (PSII) absorbs light best at 680nm.
photosystem I wavelength
700nm
photosystem II wavelength
680nm
what is the stroma
it surrounds thylakoids and contains enzymes, sugars and organic acids.
what are the three main stages of photosynthesis?
- capturing of light energy by chloroplasts pigments such as chlorophyll.
- the light dependent reaction which same of the light energy absorbed is conserved in chemical bonds.
- the light independent reaction - protons (hydrogen ions) used to produce sugars and other organic molecules.
what effect does photolysis have on the concentration of inside the thylakoid space?
photolysis of water produces protons which increases their concentration inside.
how do H+ pass across the Thy. Mem.
through ATP synthase channel proteins which causes a change in the structure of enzymes which catalyses combination of ADP with Pi -> ATP
what does the light DEPENDENT reaction involve?
capturing light by chlorophyll in photosynthesis.
- adds inorganic phosphate molecule to ADP -> ATP (photophosphorylation)
- light splits water into H+ ions and OH- ions (photolysis)
- some used to reduce NADP to form NADPH
where does the light DEPENDENT reaction take place in?
the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts.
what are the two types of photophosphorylation?
non cyclic
cyclic