Photosynthesis and Plant Nutrition

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts associated with photosynthesis and plant nutrition.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants make carbohydrates from raw materials using light energy.

Chlorophyll

The green pigment found in chloroplasts that captures light energy for photosynthesis.

Glucose

The main product of photosynthesis, which can be used for respiration or converted into other forms.

Starch

An insoluble form of glucose that serves as a stored sugar in plants.

Nitrates

Minerals needed for the synthesis of amino acids and DNA in plants.

Magnesium ions

Essential for making chlorophyll, necessary for photosynthesis.

Limiting factors

Environmental factors that restrict the rate of photosynthesis when in low amounts.

Stomata

Pores in the leaf controlled by guard cells, allowing the diffusion of gases in and out.

Transpiration

The process by which water vapor is lost from the leaf surface.

Hydrogencarbonate indicator

A solution used to test for dissolved carbon dioxide presence, changing colors based on CO2 levels.

Gas exchange

The process by which carbon dioxide enters and oxygen exits the leaf via stomata.

Cuticle

A waterproof layer on leaves that reduces water loss.

Palisade mesophyll

Leaf tissue with plenty of chloroplasts, responsible for the majority of photosynthesis.

Spongy mesophyll

Leaf tissue with air spaces that allows gas exchange and some photosynthesis.

Petiole

The leaf stalk that attaches the leaf to the stem.

Vascular bundle

Structures consisting of xylem and phloem that transport water and nutrients in plants.

Destarching

The process of depriving a plant of light to use up all stored starch before an experiment.

Ethanol

An alcohol used in testing for starch in leaves, which removes chlorophyll.

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules into cells through a semi-permeable membrane.

Respiration

The process in which plants use glucose and oxygen to generate energy, releasing carbon dioxide.