Topic 6 Flashcards
Photosynthesis equation
Light and chlorophyll
Carbon. Dioxide + water -»> glucose and oxygen
How are plants vital to our survival
Without plants there would be no food. All carbon in proteins, fats and carbohydrates is derived from photosynthesis in plants.
Requirements for photosynthesis
Light - which provide energy for the process
Chlorophyll - green pigment and absorbs energy from the light
Carbon dioxide - diffuses into the leaves from the air
Water absorbed by roots from the soil
What is cellulose made from
Glucose to make cell wall
Limiting factors to photosynthesis
Light intensity - determine the energy
Temperature - influences the activity of enzymes in the chloroplasts
Carbon dioxide - when concentration increases
Leaves characteristics
Large surface area - absorbs light
Thin shape - so gases can diffuse in and out
Many chloroplasts - absorb light
Veins - support to leaf surface and carry water and ions to the leaf cells
Cuticle
Waterproof layer that also cuts down the water lost by evaporation
Spongy mesophyll
More rounded cells with lots of air spaces between them
Lower epidermis
No thick cuticle
Has lots of tiny holes called stomata
These allows gases to diffuse in and out
Upper epidemis
Single layer of cells with no chloroplast. Light goes straight through
Palisade mesophyll
The palisade cells contain lots of chloroplasts. Most photosynthesis occurs here
Vein
Contains xylem vessels that bring water and ions to the leaf and phloem tubes that take away sucrose and amino acids
What is the stomata
Small pores in the epidermis that allow gases to diffuse into and out of the leaf.
