Intro to Bio Lab: Photosynthesis: Capture of Light Energy (Exercise 9)

overall equation for photosynthesis

6CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2 (6 carbon dioxide + 6 water + sunlight = 1 sugar + 6 oxygen)

structures of the chloroplast

contain thylakoids (light dependent reactions occur), stroma (calvin cycle takes place), chlorophyll (pigment that absorbs light)

identify the parts of a broad leaf

blade, petiole, veins (helps in photosynthesis and transport of nutrients and water)

photosynthesis

how plants make their food; take in sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide from the air to create sugar (food) and oxygen.

role played by autotrophs and heterotrophs

autotrophs; organisms (plants) that produce their own food through photosynthesis. heterotrophs (animals, fungi, bacteria); rely on consuming other organisms for energy

light dependent and light independent reactions that occur during photosynthesis

light-dependent reaction; occur in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts; sunlight is absorbed and converts into ATP and NADPH.
light-independent reaction (Calvin cycle); occur in the stroma, uses ATP and NADPH to turn CO2 into glucose

different types of pigments contain by chloroplasts using thin layer chromatography

thin layer chromatography; used to separate different types of pigments in chloroplasts. xanthophyll: reflects yellow light, carotenes: reflect orange light

identify the uptake of CO2 (carbon dioxide) during photosynthesis

to see how plants take in carbon dioxide; doing experiment using colored solutions that change when CO2 is added (e.g., phenol red, which changes color when CO2 is present)

input and output of the two photosynthetic reactions

inputs of the light-dependent reaction; water and light energy, outputs; ATP, NADPH, oxygen. inputs of the light-independent reaction; carbon dioxide, ATP, and NADPH, outputs; glucose