5 - ICH - Photosynthesis Flashcards
(43 cards)
What is:
- Autotrophic nutrition
- Heterotrophic nutrition
Autotrophic nutrition = The synthesis of complex organic molecules from inorganic molecules using external sources of energy e.g. photosynthesis/ light
Heterotrophic nutrition = Aquiring nutrients by the ingestion of other organisms e.g. animals and fungi
What are photoautotrophs?
Photoautotrophs = Example of autotrophic nutrition in which plants need light to photosynthesise
Simple equation for photosynthesis
Why is this an oversimplification?
6CO2 + 6H2O + Light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
- Photosynthesis is actually a complex series of chemical reactions
- Photosynthesis is split into 3 distinct stages
- The stages occur in different parts of the chloroplast
How is photosynthesis related to respitation?
They are reverses of each other:

What happens to the the levels of photosynthesis, respiration and glucose from day to night?
DAY:
Both photosynthesis and respiration happen.
Rate of photosynthesis > Rate of respiration
CO2 entering the plant and O2 leaving the plant.
Plant makes excess glucose, NET ↑ of glucose production.
NIGHT:
Photosynthesis stops (no light available) but respiration continues.
Rate of photosynthesis < Rate of respiration
O2 entering the plant and CO2 leaving the plant.
Use glucose for respiration but not making any to replenish it, NET ↓ of glucose.
DAWN/ DUSK:
At the compensation point: Rate of photosynthesis = Rate of respiration.
What is the compensation point?
Rate of photosynthesis = Rate of respiration
Name the 3 main stages of photosynthesis + where does each stage occur?
- Light harvesting/ capturing of light energy -
- Light dependant reaction - Thylakoid membrane
- Light independant reaction - Stroma
What is photolysis?
The splitting of water using light energy
What are photosynthetic pigments?
Name 3 types of photosynthetic pigments + give examples of each
Chemicals that absorb light energy. As a result of the light energy being absorbed the chemicals become “excited”.
Chlorophyll - a and b
Carotinoids - carotene
Xanthophyll
Why do plants have a range of different pigments?
Allows them to absopt a greater range of light wavelengths

What metal is present in the centre of the complex iron in chlorophyll?
What does the metal bonded to the 4 N’s make?
Magnesium

Porphyrin ring
Where are chloroplasts in the cell?
What is the purpose of their tail?

What is thin layer chromatography?
A technique for seperating different pigments through the rate at which they move across an inert surface carried by a slovent
What is a photosystem?
They are collections of pigments in the thylakoid membrane
What is the photosynthetic pigment in the center of photosystem 1 and photosystem 2?
Photosystem 1 = P700
Photosystem 2 = P680
Define chromatography
A technique for seperating molecules from a mixture according to their different solubility in a particular solvent
What does Rf stand for?
Equation for working out the Rf value?
Rf = Retention factor
Rf = distance moved by pigment / distance moved by solvent
What is the stroma?
Fluid-filed matrix where the light independant reactions of photosynthesis take place.
Within the stroma a number of structures such as starch grains and oil droplets occur.
What is the grana?
Stacks of disc like structures called thylakoids.
Within the thylakoid membranes chloroplast pigments are embedded and arranged in such a way to form complexes called photosystems.
This is where the light dependant reactions occur.
How are chloroplasts adapted to absorbing (harvesting) sunlight and carrying out the light dependant/ light independant reactions of photosynthesis? (6)
- Small + disc shape. Materials are easily exchanged with surrounding cytoplasm (max SA:VOL + short diffusion distance).
- Chloroplasts are not static so they can be moved around the cytoplasm, allowing them to occupy the optimum position to carry out photosynthesis.
- Granal membranes provide large SA to hold photosynthetic pigments, electron carriers and enzymes in precise positions.
- Granal membranes have many ATP synthase attached to them. This helps with synthesis of ATP by chemiosmosis.
- Stroma contains all enzymes needed to carry out light independant reactions.
- Stroma fuild surrounds grana, light dependant reactions cana easily pass into the stroma.
Name 2 types of accessory pigment
Carotenoids
Xanthophyll
How do electrons leave the photosystem?
- Absorbed light raises the energy levels of the electrons in the pigment molecules.
- These electrons then become “excited” and then leave the parent molecule.
Where are photosystems located in the cell?
Thylakoid membranes
Where does the light dependant reaction occur?
Thylakoid membranes









