Importance of Pigments in Photosynthetic Organisms

These flashcards cover key concepts related to photosynthesis and the role of pigments.

Photosynthesis

The process that converts solar energy into chemical energy used by biological systems.

Photoautotrophs

Organisms such as plants and certain bacteria that produce their own food using solar energy.

Glucose (C6H12O6)

A sugar produced during photosynthesis, serving as a primary energy source for plants and other organisms.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrate chains formed from glucose; examples include cellulose and starch.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs, containing thylakoids and chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll

The most abundant pigment in plants, absorbing light energy for photosynthesis except for green light.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The energy-carrying molecule used in cells for powering reactions.

NADP+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate)

An electron carrier in photosynthesis that transforms to NADPH upon receiving excited electrons.

Light Reactions

The first part of photosynthesis that captures light energy to create energy carriers like ATP and NADPH.

Dark Reactions (Calvin Cycle)

The second part of photosynthesis that fixes carbon dioxide into glucose, occurring in the stroma of chloroplasts.