Test 2 vocab Flashcards
photosythesis
the process that converts solar engery into chemicl energy
autotrophs
organisms that obtains organic food molecules without eating anything derived from other organisms
producer
an organism that produces organic molecules from CO2 and other inorganic molecules by harnessing light energy or by oxidizing inorganic chemicals
heterotrophs
organisms that obtain their organic material from other organisms
consumer
an organism that depends on photoautotrophs for food and O2
redox reaction
a chemical reaction involving the complete or partial transfer of one or more electrons from one reactant to another
reduction
the complete or partial addition of electrons from a substance involved in a redox reaction
oxidizing agent
the electron acceptor
oxidation
the complete or partial loss of electorns from a substance involved in a redox reaction
reducing agent
the elctron donor
endergonic reaction
a nonspontaneous chemical reaction, in which free energy (energy available to do work) is absorbed from the surrounding (anabolic)
mesophyll
the interior tissue of a leaf composed of mesophyll cells that contains chloroplasts and other organelles
stomata
microscopic pores found in the epidermis of leaves and stems that carry out gas exchange between environment and the interior of the plant
chloroplasts
pigment containing organelles in plant cells
thylakoid
flattened membranous sac in the chloroplast
chlorophyll
a green pigment that absorbs light energy to drive sythesis of organic molecules
grana
thylakoid stacked columns
stroma
a dense fluid within the choloplast surrounding the thylakoid sacs
photophosphorylation
the process of generating ATP from ADP and phosphate by means of chemiosmosis, using a H+ gradient generated across the thylakoid
photolysis
light provides energy for enzymes to split H2O into hydrogen and oxygen and excited electorns
carbon fixation
incorporating CO2 into organic molecules
nature of sunlight
light is a form of electormagnetic energy (radiation)
electromagnetic radiation
energy that exhibits wavelike behavior
wavelength
the distance between crests of electromagnetic waves