Chapter 7

6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H2O (water) ——> C6H12O6 (sugar) + 6O2 (oxygen)

• Photosynthesis involves oxidation-reduction (redox) and the movement of elections from one molecule to another

OXIDATION - the loss of elections (loss of hydrogen atoms)

REDUCTION - the gain of elections (gain of hydrogen atoms)

*in living organisms, electrons are usually accompanied by hydrogen ions-*

The Role of NADP/NADPH

NADP+ - the coenzyme of oxidation reduction reactions active during photosynthesis

• When NADP+ is REDUCED = +2 electrons

• When NADPH is OXIDIZED = gives up it´s electrons

2 Sets of Reactions

1. Light reactions

   • Occur when sunlight is present

   • Chlorophyll is present in thylakoid membranes absorbs the solar energy that drives photosynthesis

2. Dark/Light-Independent Reactions (Calvin Cycle)

   • Occurs in the stroma

   • CO2 is taken up and then reduced to a carbohydrate later converted to Glucose (aka CARBON FIXATION)

   • ATP + NADPH formed during the light reactions are used to reduce CO2