Photosynthesis Flashcards
What are the raw materials for photosynthesis?
- CO2 (6x)
- H20 (6x)`
What are the products of photosynthesis?
- Glucose (1x)
- O2 (6x)
How many membranes surround a chloroplast?
2.
What happens to the glucose produced from photosynthesis?
Some is used immediately for cellular respiration (creating ATP) whilst some is stored as carbs / fats in roots, seeds and fruits.
Thylakoids form stacks called what?
Grana.
What is the balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Where are most photosynthetic cells in plants found?
Leaf.
Which organisms contain chloroplasts?
Plants and some algae.
Stacks of thylakoids (grana) are connected by what?
Lamella.
What is the word equation for photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide + Water -> Glucose + Oxygen
What are the constituents of the chloroplast envelope?
Inner membrane and Outer membrane.
Describe the structure of the chloroplasts:
- Chloroplast envelope (inner & outer membranes).
- Thylakoids.
- Grana (stacks of thylakoids).
- Lamella.
- Matrix
- Ribosomes (70S).
- Lipid droplet.
- Starch grain.
What is the significance of having a double membrane for the chloroplast?
The chloroplast can carry out photosynthetic reactions without interference from chemicals in the cytoplasm.
How is a leaf adapted to make photosynthesis more efficient?
- Large surface area that absorbs as much sunlight as possible.
- Thin, as most light is absorbed in the first few micrometres of leaf.
- Transparent cuticle and epidermis letting light through to photosynthetic mesophyll cells beneath.
- Long, narrow upper mesophyll cells packed with chloroplasts.
- Network of xylem brining water to leaf cells, and phloem carrying sugars produced.
What is the site of the light independent reaction?
Stroma.
What are the different stages in the light independent reaction?
Carbon fixation.
Reduction of GP to TP.
TP converted to organic substances.
Regeneration of RuBP.
Explain the process of carbon fixation:
- CO2 from the atmosphere diffuses into the leaf through stomata and dissolves into water around mesophyll cells then into stroma of chloroplasts.
- CO2 reacts with RuBP to produce a 6C molecule, this is catalysed by the RuBisCo enzyme.
- Produces 2 molecules of GP.
Explain the process of GP to TP:
Reduced NADP is used to reduce GP to TP using energy from ATP.
Explain the conversion of TP to organic substances:
Some TP is converted to organic substances such as glucose.
Explain the process of RuBP regeneration:
Most of the TP is used to regenerate RuBP using ATP, 1/6th of the TP is used to make glucose whilst 5/6ths are used to make RuBP.
Where does the Calvin Cycle occur?
Stroma of the chloroplasts.
