Photosynthesis Overview and Stages

Vocabulary flashcards covering the chemical equation of photosynthesis and the relationship between the light reactions and the Calvin cycle.

Photosynthesis Equation

The overarching chemical reaction represented by $6H_2O + 6CO_2 + \text{sunlight} \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$, in which water, carbon dioxide, and energy yield sugar and oxygen.

Light Reactions

The stage of photosynthesis that absorbs light and water ($H_2O$) to produce oxygen ($O_2$), generating ATP and NADPH for the Calvin cycle.

Calvin Cycle

The cycle in photosynthesis that takes in carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) along with ATP and NADPH to synthesize sugar, returning ADP + Pi and $NADP^+$ back to the light reactions.

ATP and NADPH

Energy-rich and electron-carrying molecules produced by the light reactions that are fed into the Calvin cycle to drive sugar production.

$NADP^+$ and ADP + Pi

The lower-energy oxidized electron acceptor and dephosphorylated molecule produced by the Calvin cycle that return to the light reactions to be regenerated.

Photosynthesis Process Overview

The complete pathway connecting the light reactions and Calvin cycle, where light and $H_2O$ produce $O_2$, and $CO_2$ is reduced to sugar through intermediate cycling of ATP/ADP + Pi and NADPH/$NADP^+$.

Chloroplast

A double-membrane, capsule-shaped organelle located within leaf mesophyll cells where photosynthesis occurs.

Thylakoid

A disk-shaped vesicle found inside a chloroplast.

Granum

A stack of thylakoids located inside a chloroplast.

Stroma

The fluid-filled space within a chloroplast that surrounds the thylakoids.

Chlorophyll

A green light-absorbing pigment embedded in thylakoid membranes that excites electrons to power photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll a

The primary pigment found in all photosynthetic organisms that absorbs violet-blue and reddish orange-red light while reflecting green and yellow-green wavelengths.