Photosynthesis and Chloroplast Structure

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the concepts, equations, organelles, stages, and products of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

A chemical process involving the synthesis of food (carbohydrates) in the presence of sunlight or light, converting radiant energy into chemical potential energy.

Metabolism

Chemical processes occurring in living organisms that are controlled by enzymes.

Anabolism

Building up chemical reactions in organisms.

Catabolism

Breaking down chemical reactions in organisms.

Iodine solution

A chemical solution used to test for the presence of starch; a positive test results in a colour change from brown to blue-black.

Autotrophic

Describing green plants that produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis.

Heterotrophic

Describing organisms that cannot photosynthesize and must obtain food from other organisms.

Radiant energy

Energy from the sun absorbed by plant leaves and chlorophyll, required to drive photosynthesis.

Chloroplast

An organelle found only in plant cells that serves as the site for photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll

The green pigment found inside the chloroplasts needed for photosynthesis to absorb radiant energy.

Thylakoid

Disc-shaped membranes within the chloroplast that contain chlorophyll.

Granum

A stack of thylakoids inside the chloroplast where the light dependent phase of photosynthesis takes place.

Lamella

Membranes inside the chloroplast that make up the thylakoids.

Stroma

The liquid part of the chloroplast where the light independent phase of photosynthesis takes place.

Starch granule

A structure within the chloroplast where excess glucose produced during photosynthesis is stored as starch.

Chloroplast DNA

Genetic material located within the chloroplast that contains genetic information.

Double membrane

The outer boundary of the chloroplast that protects the organelle and allows substances to move in and out.

Light dependent phase

The phase of photosynthesis occurring in the grana of chloroplasts that requires light to drive photolysis and phosphorylation.

Light independent phase

The phase of photosynthesis occurring in the stroma of chloroplasts where no light is required, combining $CO_2$ and $H^+$ using ATP to form glucose.

Photolysis

The splitting of water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen atoms caused by radiant energy (photo = light, lysis = split).

Phosphorylation

The formation of energy-transporting ATP molecules driven by radiant energy during the light dependent phase.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, an energy carrier molecule formed in the light dependent phase and utilized in the light independent phase.

Calvin cycle

The cyclical process occurring during the light independent phase of photosynthesis.

Glucose

The carbohydrate ($C_6H_{12}O_6$) produced during photosynthesis that serves as an energy source or is stored as starch or glycogen.

Starch

The stored form of glucose in plants.

Glycogen

The stored form of glucose in animals.

Water

An inorganic raw material absorbed from the soil by plant roots and split during photolysis in the grana.

Carbon dioxide

A raw gas ($CO_2$) that diffuses into plant leaves from the atmosphere and is combined with hydrogen ions to form carbohydrates.

Oxygen

A gaseous byproduct ($O_2$) formed during the photolysis of water that is released back into the atmosphere through the leaves.