cell energy/photosynthesis

glucose

a sugar made by plants and algae during photosynthesis that can be used for energy.

chloroplast

Organelles found in plant cells and that absorb sunlight and use water and carbon dioxide to produce food for the plant.

Chlorophyll

Green pigment in chloroplast membrane that traps the sun’s energy.

Aerobic respiration

Process by which organisms (plants and animals) use oxygen to break down food to get energy for cell functions. Happens in the mitochondria!

Anaerobic respiration

A form of respiration which does not use oxygen when breaking down food and releases small amounts of energy.

Alcoholic fermentation

A type of anaerobic respiration done by some yeast, bacteria and molds where small amounts of energy are made as well as alcohol & CO2 as by products.

Lactic acid fermentation

A form of anaerobic respiration is used by bacteria and some muscle cells of animals to produce some ATP and lactic acid.

Producers

Organisms who photosynthesize. Also known as autotrophs.

Consumers

Organisms who must eat or consume nutrients. 

ATP

Molecule responsible for storing and transferring energy. Kind of like storing money in a bank.

Guard cell

Regulates the openings on the leaf for gases to enter or exit.

Photosynthesis

The process that converts light energy into chemical energy.

Stomata

Holes on the leaf where O2 exits and CO2 enters during photosynthesis.

Stroma

The fluid of the chloroplast.

Thylakoids

A flattened, membranous sac inside a chloroplast filled with chlorophyll.

Energy + 6CO2 +6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

What is the equation for photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Used in the Calvin Cycle to make glucose.

Pigment

Light-absorbing molecule.

ADP

(Adenosine diphosphate) The compound that remains when a phosphate group is removed from ATP.

Sunlight, H2O & CO2

Reactants of photosynthesis.

C6H12O6 & O2

Products of photosynthesis.

Light & H2O

Reactants of the Light dependent reaction.

Blue & red light

Absorbed by chlorophyll.

Green light

Reflected by chlorophyll.

Vein

Transports materials such as water, minerals or food.

Palisade mesophyll

The cells here are the main food making area because they are the most efficient at photosynthesizing.

Spongy mesophyll

Filled with air spaces, these irregularly shaped cells can photosynthesize also but not as efficiently.