C1.3 SL / HL

Question 1

Producers

Answer 1

organisms that create their own food, typically through photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide

Question 2

radiant energy

Answer 2

energy that is transferred through electromagnetic waves, such as light and heat, and is often associated with the sun’s energy

Question 3

chemical energy

Answer 3

the potential energy stored within the chemical bonds of molecules, like those in food or ATP

Question 4

Chloroplasts

Answer 4

specialized organelles found in plant and algal cells, crucial for photosynthesis

Question 5

photosynthesis

Answer 5

the biological process where green plants and other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water

Question 6

Photolysis

Answer 6

a chemical reaction where light energy splits molecules, often involving the breakdown of water molecules into oxygen, hydrogen ions, and electrons

Question 7

Photosystems

Answer 7

protein-pigment complexes within the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts that capture light energy and convert it into chemical energy during photosynthesis

Question 8

thylakoid membrane

Answer 8

a highly folded membrane system found within chloroplasts of plants and green algae, and also in cyanobacteria

Question 9

chlorophyll

Answer 9

a green pigment found in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.It’s crucial for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy

Question 10

by-product

Answer 10

a substance produced during a biological process, alongside the intended main product

Question 11

stomata

Answer 11

small pores, primarily found on the underside of leaves, that regulate gas exchange and water loss in plants

Question 12

Pigments

Answer 12

substances that give color to animal and plant cells by absorbing specific wavelengths of light and reflecting others

Question 13

Carotenoids

Answer 13

a class of fat-soluble pigments that give plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria their characteristic yellow, orange, and red colors

Question 14

Carotene

Answer 14

a class of orange, red, or yellow pigments found in plants and some animals

Question 15

Xanthophyll

Answer 15

a type of yellow to orange pigment belonging to the broader category of carotenoids

Question 16

Paper Chromatography

Answer 16

a method used in biology and chemistry to separate and identify the components of a mixture, particularly colored substances like plant pigments or dyes

Question 17

Rf value

Answer 17

a ratio that indicates how far a substance travels relative to the solvent front

Question 18

visible spectrum

Answer 18

the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye

Question 19

wavelength

Answer 19

the distance between two identical points on a wave, often measured from crest to crest or trough to trough

Question 20

Absorption spectrum

Answer 20

a graph that illustrates the amount of light a substance absorbs at different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, typically visible light.It shows which wavelengths a pigment or other molecule absorbs most strongly, providing information about its properties and how it interacts with light

Question 21

Primary pigments

Answer 21

the pigments that directly participate in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis

Question 22

Accessory pigments

Answer 22

light-absorbing compounds, found in photosynthetic organisms like plants and algae, that work alongside chlorophyll a to broaden the range of light wavelengths used in photosynthesis

Question 23

Action spectrum

Answer 23

a graph that illustrates the effectiveness of different wavelengths of light in driving a specific biological process, like photosynthesis

Question 24

limiting factor

Answer 24

a resource or environmental condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population

Question 25

light intensity

Answer 25

the amount of light energy that is available to an organism, often a plant, over a specific area and time period

Question 26

substrate

Answer 26

the substance or surface on which an organism lives, grows, or is attached

Question 27

metabolic pathway

Answer 27

a series of interconnected biochemical reactions that convert a starting molecule (substrate) into a specific product through a sequence of steps, each catalyzed by an enzyme

Question 28

active site

Answer 28

a specific region on an enzyme where a substrate molecule binds and a chemical reaction is catalyzed

Question 29

optimum temperature

Answer 29

the temperature at which it operates most efficiently and effectively. For most human enzymes, this optimum temperature is around 37°C (98.6°F)

Question 30

denature

Answer 30

the process where proteins or nucleic acids lose their folded structure and native conformation due to external stress or compounds. This loss of structure can lead to a loss of biological function

Question 31

Oxygen probe

Answer 31

sensor designed to measure oxygen concentrations and is ideal for investigating topics such as photosynthesis and respiration

Question 32

dry biomass

Answer 32

the mass of living material (biomass) in an organism or tissue after all water has been removed

Question 33

Industrial Revolution

Answer 33

a shift towards using biological systems and resources in industrial processes to create more sustainable and efficient manufacturing methods

Question 34

free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE)

Answer 34

a method used in ecological research to study the effects of elevated carbon dioxide levels on plants and ecosystems. It involves exposing plants to increased CO2 concentrations in a natural, open-air environment, without enclosing them in chambers