Photosynthesis & Respiration

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll, converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Light-dependent reactions

Reactions that occur in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts during photosynthesis. They require light energy to convert ADP and NADP+ into ATP and NADPH, respectively. These reactions also produce oxygen as a byproduct.

Light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle)

The series of chemical reactions in photosynthesis that convert carbon dioxide into glucose molecules. It occurs in the stroma of chloroplasts and does not require light energy. The cycle involves three main steps: carbon fixation, reduction, and regeneration of the starting molecule.

Carbon fixation

The process of incorporating carbon dioxide into organic compounds during the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis.

Production of oxygen

One of the significant outcomes of photosynthesis, where oxygen is released as a byproduct during the light-dependent reactions.

Chlorophyll

The light-absorbing green-coloured pigment that begins the process of photosynthesis.

Chloroplast

A membrane-bound organelle in green plant and algal cells that carries out photosynthesis.

Stroma

The protein-rich semiliquid material in the interior of a chloroplast.

Thylakoid

A disk-shaped sac in the stroma of a chloroplast.

Grana

Stacks of tylakoids.

Thylakoid Membrane

The photosynthetic membrane within a chloroplast that contains light gathering pigment molecules and electron transport chains.

ATP

A molecule containing three high energy phosphate bonds that acts as the primary energy-transferring molecule in a living organism.

ADP

A molecule containing two high-energy phosphate bonds that may be formed by breaking one of the phosphate bonds in ATP.

NADP+

A compound that accepts one hydrogen atom and two electrons forming NADPH; it is an electron acceptor.

NADPH

A compound that donates one hydrogen aton and two electrons to another molecule, to reform NADP+; it is an electron donor.

Light-dependent reactions

reactions of photosynthesis that use energy from light to produce ATP and NADPH

Light-independent reactions

The second set of reactions in photosynthesis that do not require light.

Photosystem

A cluster of photosynthetic pigments embedded in a thylakoid membrane of a chloroplast that absorbs light energy.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of progressively stronger electron acceptors; each time an electron is transferred, energy is released.

Raw Materials in photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide and Water.

Molecule of immediate energy?

ATP.

What are the products of 'Light-Dependent' reactions?

ATP, NADPH and O2.

What does chlorophyll do to green pigment?

Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants. It absorbs sunlight during photosynthesis, converting it into chemical energy. This energy is used to produce glucose, which fuels plant growth and development. Chlorophyll plays a crucial role in capturing light energy and is responsible for the green color of leaves.

Electron Transport Chain

Process in cellular respiration where electrons from NADH is transferred along a series of protein complexes embedded in the inner mitochondrial or chloroplast membrane. which drives ATP synthesis.