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Autotroph
Any plant or algae that makes its own food.
Endosymbiotic
Chloroplasts that used to live independently.
Pigment
Molecules that absorb light and boost electrons to a higher energy level.
Photon
Light made up of small packets of energy.
Wavelength
The length of a single cycle of a wave measured by the distance between one peak to another.
Carotenoid
Accessory pigments that consist of carbon rings linked to a chain with alternating single and double bonds.
Reaction centre
A complex of proteins and pigments that contains the primary electron acceptor.
Absorption spectra
A plot of the amount of light energy of various wavelengths that a substance absorbs.
Chloroplast
An organelle in plants responsible for photosynthesis, containing structures like outer membrane, stroma, thylakoid membrane, lumen, grana, and lamellae.
Chlorophyll
A pigment in chloroplasts, containing a magnesium center in a porphyrin ring with a hydrophobic tail called a phytol tail.
Photosystem
A complex that absorbs photons of light and uses them to excite electrons.
Chlorophyll a
A type of chlorophyll containing a methyl group.
Chlorophyll b
A type of chlorophyll containing an aldehyde group.
Stomata
Tiny openings in leaves and stems for gas exchange.
Guard cells
Cells that control the opening and closing of stomata to regulate gas exchange.
Electromagnetic spectrum
A representation of all wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.
Visible light
The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye, typically between 380-750 nm.
Light Reactions
The initial phase of photosynthesis occurring in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts, producing ATP, NADPH, and oxygen.
Calvin Cycle
The series of biochemical reactions that occur in the stroma of chloroplasts, using CO2 to synthesize glucose.
C4 Plants
Plants that have adapted to hot, arid environments, opening stomata during the day to reduce photorespiration.
CAM Plants
Plants like cacti that open stomata at night to conserve water.
Factors affecting rate of photosynthesis
Includes sunlight availability and water availability (drought conditions).
