Photosynthesis and Carbohydrate Function in Plants

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to photosynthesis and the roles of carbohydrates in plants.

Autotrophic

Organisms that can make organic compounds like carbohydrates from inorganic raw materials.

Heterotrophic

Organisms that must take in organic substances as nutrients since they cannot make them independently.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants make organic nutrients (glucose) from raw materials using light energy.

Chlorophyll

The green pigment in plants that captures light energy for photosynthesis.

Sucrose

A larger molecule formed from glucose for transport through phloem to various parts of the plant.

Starch

A form of stored glucose in plants, which is insoluble in water and does not affect osmotic concentration.

Cellulose

A straight chain of glucose used to build the cell wall, providing support for the plant.

Glucose

A simple sugar produced in photosynthesis, utilized for energy in respiration and other functions.

Amino Acids

Building blocks of proteins, formed by combining glucose with nitrogen absorbed from the soil.

Nitrate Ion (NO3)

A mineral salt needed by plants to make amino acids and proteins.

Magnesium

A mineral required for the production of chlorophyll in plants.

Nectar

A sugary fluid made by plants to attract pollinators.

Food Chain

The sequence of organisms in an ecosystem through which energy and nutrients pass, beginning with autotrophs.

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, released when glucose is broken down.

Osmosis

The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.