4.5 - Energy Transformations- Photosynthesis

photosynthesis

process by which photoautotrophs use the sun's energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars

chloroplast

organelle found in plant and algae cells where photosynthesis occurs

thylakoid

a flattened membrane sac inside the chloroplast, used to convert light energy into chemical energy.

granum

a stack of thylakoids in a chloroplast

stroma

fluid portion of the chloroplast; outside of the thylakoids

light reactions

reactions of photosynthesis that use energy from light to produce ATP and NADPH

Calvin cycle

the process in which carbon dioxide, ATP, and NADPH are turned into glucose

glucose

a simple sugar that is an important source of energy.

photosynthesis equation

6CO2 + 6H2O + light --> C6H12O6 + 6O2

ATP

(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work

NADPH

H+ / e- carrier that provides high-energy electrons for photosynthesis

carbon dioxide (CO2)

used in the Calvin cycle to make glucose

water (H2O)

split to deliver H+ / e- to Calvin cycle, produces oxygen

chlorophyll

a green pigment found in the chloroplasts of plants, algae, and some bacteria that captures light energy

oxygen (O2)

produced from the splitting of water molecules

rubisco

enzyme that adds carbon dioxide molecules onto sugar molecules during the first step of the Calvin cycle