Photosynthesis

Chapter 8

Photosynthesis

process that converts solar energy into chemical energy inside chloroplasts

Autotrophs

• “self-feeders”

• get energy and carbon entirely from nonliving sources

• producers; they make organic molecules from CO2 and other inorganic molecules

Heterotrophs

obtain energy and carbon from the organic material derived from other organisms

Chloroplasts

• sites of photosynthesis in plants

• leaves are the major locations of photosynthesis

• CO2 enters and O2 exits the leaf through stomata

• often found mainly in cells of the mesophyll

• each mesophyll cell contains 30-40 chloroplasts

• composed of a double membrane surrounding the stroma

Stomata

microscopic pores

Mesophyll

interior tissue of the leaf

Stroma

dense fluid

Thylakoids

a third membrane system (composed of sacs)

Grana

stacks of thylakoids

Chlorophyll

a pigment that resides in the thylakoid membranes (creating the green color of leaves)