Unit 8: Photosynthesis

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

Process where green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria transform light energy into chemical energy.

Photoautotrophs

Organisms capable of producing their own organic compounds from sunlight.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that consume organic substances or other organisms for food.

Chemoautotrophs

Organisms that build organic molecules using energy derived from inorganic chemicals.

Photosynthetic Reactants

CO2, H2O, and sunlight that are needed for photosynthesis.

Photosynthetic Products

O2 and G3P, which are produced during photosynthesis.

Mesophyll

The middle layer of chlorophyll-rich cells in a leaf where photosynthesis primarily occurs.

Stomata

Openings in leaves that regulate gas exchange and water evaporation.

Chloroplast

Membrane-bound organelle with chlorophyll where photosynthesis takes place.

Thylakoids

Disc-shaped, membrane-bound structures inside chloroplasts where light-dependent reactions occur.

Light-dependent reactions

The first stage of photosynthesis where specific wavelengths of light are absorbed to form ATP and NADPH.

Light Independent Reactions

2nd photosynthetic stage where CO2 used to build carbs using energy from ATP + NADPH

Light Dependent Reactions

1st photosynthetic stage where certain visible light wavelengths absorbed forming ATP + NADPH

Kinetic Energy

Energy Object has due to its motion

Wavelength

Distance between consecutive crest points of wave

Examples of Heterotrophs (consumer other organisms)

Animals, Fungi and most bacteria

Chemoautotrophs

Organisms build organic molecules with energy derived from inorganic chemical vs sunlight

Examples of chemoautotrophs

Special group bacteria and archaea

Photosynthetic Reactants

CO2, H20 and Sunlight

Photosynthetic Products

O2 + G3P1

6CO2 (carbon Dioxide) + 6H2O (water) + Sunlight = C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2 (oxygen)

Photosynthesis Equation

Photosynthesis primarily occurs where?

In plant leaves

Mesophyll

Middle layer of chlorophyll rich cells in a leaf

Stomata

Opening in leaf regulating gas exchange and H2O evaporation between leaves and environment

Chloroplast

Membrane bound organelle with chlorophyll where photosynthesis takes place

Chloroplasts mostly found in

The mesophyll

Thylakoids

Disc shaped, membrane bound structure inside chloroplast where light dependent reactions of photosynthesis takes place

Light dependent reactions occur in the _________

Thylakoids

Thylakoids Structure

Lumen, stroma and granum

Kinetic Energy

Energy object has due to its motion

Wavelength

Distance between consecutive crest points of wave

Light is ____ energy traveling in waves

Kinetic

Electromagnetic spectrum

Range of all possible frequencies of radiation

Photosynthesis converts light to ____ energy

Chemical

Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)

400-700nm light used by plants for photosynthesis

Absorption Spectrum

Range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by a substance

Different pigments absorb specific _______.

Wavelengths

Each chloroplast usually has many different _______.

Pigments

Chlorophyll A

Photosynthetic pigment abosorbing violet-blue and red light

Chlorophyll B

Photosynthetic pigment absorbing Blue and Red-Orange light

Carotenoids

Absorbs Blue Light

Light Dependent Reactions convert solar energy to ______ energy

Chemical

Photosystem

Proteins, chlorophyll, other pigments that absorb light and convert to chemical energy in light dependent reactions

Photosystems are reaction areas for _____ energy

Light Energy

What are they two photo systems in thylakoids membranes

Photosytem 1 and 2

Photosystem 2

Integral protein + pigments complex transporting electrons from H2O to electron transport chain; O2 product

Photosystem one

Integral pigment + protein complex using light energy to transport electrons from plastocyanin to NADP+

Antenna Proteins

Pigment molecule that directly absorbs light, transfers absorbed energy to other pigment molecules

Reaction center

Chlorophyll molecules + other organic molecules complex around special pair chlorophyll molecules and primary electron acceptors undergo oxidation reduction

Light Harvesting complex

Complex passes suns energy to reaction center (antenna proteins with mixture of 300-400 chlorophyll a and b molecules + carotenoids

Photoact

Ejection

What are the two primary steps in photosynthesis

Light dependent and light independent reactions

Calvin Cycle

The second stage of photosynthesis where CO2 is used to build carbohydrates using energy from ATP and NADPH.

RUBiSCO

Enzyme involved in the Calvin Cycle that helps fix carbon.

Carbon fixation

The process of converting inorganic CO2 to organic compounds during the Calvin cycle.

C3 pathway

The most common photosynthetic pathway in which CO2 is fixed directly by RUBiSCO.

C4 pathway

A photosynthetic process that minimizes photorespiration and is more efficient in hot, arid conditions.

CAM pathway

A photosynthetic adaptation in succulents that allows them to fix CO2 at night to reduce water loss.

Endosymbiotic theory

Theory explaining how chloroplasts evolved from free-living cyanobacteria engulfed by other cells.