The site of Photosynthesis

Question 1

what is the equation for photosynthesis?

Answer 1

-6CO2 + 6H2O = C2H12O6 + 6O2

Question 2

what is the major light trapping pigment in plants?

Answer 2

-chlorophyll

Question 3

what is the organ in plants designed for photosynthesis?

Answer 3

-leaf

Question 4

what is the cell layer in the leaf that is designed for photosynthesis? what are the three adaptations of this layer?

Answer 4

-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

Question 5

what is the name of the layer directly beneath the palisade layer?

Answer 5

-the spongy mesophyll layer

Question 6

what are the 2 adaptations and job of the spongy mesophyll?

Answer 6

-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

Question 7

how is the chloroplast adapted for photosynthesis? (structure)

Answer 7

-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

Question 8

where does most of the light harvesting occur and why?

Answer 8

-in the grana due to the concentrated areas of the light absorbing chlorophyll

Question 9

how many phases of photosynthesis are there and are they linked? where do they occur?

Answer 9

-there are 2 distinct but interlinked stages which occur in the thylakoids and the stroma

Question 10

what is the absorption spectrum?

Answer 10

-the relative absorption of light at particular wavelengths by all pigments of individual pigments and it can be shown in a graph

Question 11

what are the 3 individual pigments in the chloroplast?

Answer 11

-chlorophyll a
-chlorophyll b
-carotene

Question 12

how do the pigments in the chloroplast complement each other in terms of light absorption?

Answer 12

-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

Question 13

is the absorption spectrum linked to light intensity?

Answer 13

-no it is not

Question 14

look at the graph in the book of the absorption spectrum

Answer 14

bhdbhd

Question 15

what is the action spectrum?

Answer 15

-the rate of photosynthesis that rakes place at different wavelengths