Bio1 - Photosynthesis

What are the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis?

CO2 + H2O + Light Energy → Carbohydrate + O2

What is a pigment?

A molecule that absorbs specific wavelengths of light

What is chlorophyll?

The primary photosynthetic pigment n land plants and Algae

What happens when light hits pigments?

Electrons are excited to a high-energy state and are transferred to an electron acceptor

What happens to the pigments after their electrons are transferred and what does this cause and release?

They become so oxidized that they pull electrons out of the O-H bonds in water, releasing protons (H+) and Oxygen (O2)

What is photosystem II and what does it do

Its a complex of molecular machines that:

• acquire electrons by oxidizing water,

• use energy in sunlight to excite those electrons

• passes them on to an electron carrier that feeds the electron transport chain, leading to ATP production by ATP synthase.

What is photosystem I and what does it do?

a complex of molecular machines that:

• receive low energy electrons at the end of the ETC

• Use the energy in sunlight to excite those electrons to a high energy state

• passes electrons electrons to electron carriers

Where do electron carriers take electrons after photosystem I?

Either the ETC or an Enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of NADP+ to NADPH

What is the Calvin cycle and what does it do?

A series of reactions that result in carbon from CO2 being reduced and used to synthesize sugars

What is rubisco?

The enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of CO2 and its incorporation into sugars

What are stomata? What do they allow in or out?

Openings in stems and leaves that allow gas exchange via diffusion

(Co2 to enter, O2 to leave)

What are guard cells?

Cells that regulate the size of the stomata depending on environmental conditions

What are the basic steps of photosynthesis

• Sunlight is captured to split water, making O2, ATP, and NADPH

• Then in the Calvin cycle, that the ATP is used to power the catalyzation of CO2 into glucose