The site of Photosynthesis Flashcards
what is the equation for photosynthesis?
-6CO2 + 6H2O = C2H12O6 + 6O2
what is the major light trapping pigment in plants?
-chlorophyll
what is the organ in plants designed for photosynthesis?
-leaf
what is the cell layer in the leaf that is designed for photosynthesis? what are the three adaptations of this layer?
-the palisade layer which lies directly under the upper epidermis
-the palisade cells are close to the leaves upper surface where most light enters the leaf
-the cells are tightly packed together
-they have numerous chloroplasts in their cytoplasm
what is the name of the layer directly beneath the palisade layer?
-the spongy mesophyll layer
what are the 3 adaptations and job of the spongy mesophyll?
-less tightly packed than the palisade layer
-has larger air spaces that form a continuous pathway with the stomata
-this facilitates gas exchange between the palisade gas exchange between the palisade cells and the outside environment
how is the chloroplast adapted for photosynthesis? (structure)
-they contain the chlorophyll which is arranged in a series of flattened membranes called thylakoids which absorbs light energy
-thylakoids are arranged in stacks called grana
-thylakoids are linked together by intergranal lamella
where does most of the light harvesting occur and why?
-in the grana due to the concentrated areas of the light absorbing chlorophyll
how many phases of photosynthesis are there and are they linked? where do they occur?
-there are 2 distinct but interlinked stages which occur in the thylakoids and the stroma
what is the absorption spectrum?
-the relative absorption of light at particular wavelengths by all pigments of individual pigments and it can be shown in a graph
what are the 3 individual pigments in the chloroplast?
-chlorophyll a
-chlorophyll b
-carotene
how do the pigments in the chloroplast complement each other in terms of light absorption?
-absorption spectra of individual pigments show that the pigments complement each other by absorbing light over a range of different wavelengths
-this ensures that by absorbing light over as great a range of wavelengths as possible, more light energy can be harvest
is the absorption spectrum linked to light intensity?
-no it is not
look at the graph in the book of the absorption spectrum
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what is the action spectrum?
-the rate of photosynthesis that rakes place at different wavelengths