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A-level Biology > Chapter 11 - Photosynthesis > Flashcards

Chapter 11 - Photosynthesis Flashcards

1
Q

how does energy enter plants

A

the energy in light is absorbed by chlorophyll and transferred into chemical energy during photosynthesis

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2
Q

where does photosynthesis take place

A

chloroplasts

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3
Q

how are leaves adapted for photosynthesis 8

A
  • a large surface area to absorb sunlight
  • an arrangement that prevents overlapping and so shadowing of other leaves
  • thin for a short diffusion pathway
  • transparent cuticle to let light through to the palisade mesophyll cells
  • upper mesophyll cells full of chloroplasts
  • numerous stomata so mesophyll cells are never far from one
  • xylem bringing water to leaf cells and phloem bringing food to the roots
  • air spaces in the spongy mesophyll for a large surface area
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4
Q

what is the overall equation for photosynthesis

A

6CO2 + 6H20 -light-> C6H1206 + 6O2

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5
Q

what are the three main stages of photosynthesis

A

capturing light energy
the light dependent reaction
the light independent reaction

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6
Q

what happens in the first stage of photosynthesis

A

light energy is captured in the chlorophyll of the chloroplasts to make ATP and photolysis water

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7
Q

what happens in the second stage of photosynthesis

A

light breaks the bonds in chlorophyll causing water molecules to split by photolysis into protons, electrons and oxygen

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8
Q

what are the products of the light-dependent reaction

A

reduced NADP, ATP and oxygen

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9
Q

what happens in the third stage of photosynthesis

A

protons are used to produce sugars and other organic molecules

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10
Q

how long are chloroplasts typically

A

2-10 micrometres

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11
Q

what type of membrane can be found in chloroplasts

A

a double membrane

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12
Q

what are the two distinct regions in a chloroplasts

A

the grand and storm

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13
Q

what is the stroma

A

a fluid filled matrix containing starch grains. also where the light independent stage takes place

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14
Q

what are the grana

A

stacks of up to 100 thylakoid structures which contain chlorophyll. also where the light-dependent stage takes place

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15
Q

what happens when a substance is oxidised

A

gains oxygen, loses hydrogen or electrons

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16
Q

what happens when a substance is reduced

A

loses oxygen, gains hydrogen or electrons

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17
Q

what is the metabolic pathway

A

a series of small reactions caused by enzymes

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18
Q

east is phosphorylation

A

adding phosphate to a molecule

19
Q

what is photophosorylation

A

adding phosphate to a molecule using light

20
Q

what is photolysis

A

using light energy to split apart a molecule

21
Q

what is photoionisation

A

when light energy excited electrons, causing them to be released and move to a higher energy level

22
Q

what is hydrolysis

A

the splitting of a molecule using water

23
Q

what is decarboxylation

A

the removal of carbon dioxide form a molecule

24
Q

what is dehydrogenation

A

the removal of hydrogen from a molecule

25
what does NADP do
NADP is a coenzyme- it transfers hydrogen from one molecule to another
26
at what wavelength does Pi best absorb light
700 nm
27
at what wavelength does Vii best absorb light
680 nm
28
what happens in the light-dependent reaction
a chlorophyll molecule absorbs light energy, which excites the electrons in the chlorophyll and raises them to a higher energy level so they leave the chlorophyll. the chlorophyll had been photoionised. the electrons are taken up by an electron carrier molecule and passed along a chain of carriers via a series of redox reaction. because each new carrier is at a slightly lower energy level, the electrons lose a bit of energy each time. the energy is used to combine a phosphate molecules with ADP to produce ATP
29
describe chemiosmotic theory
protons are pumped into the thylakoid membranes using protein carriers called protein pump. the energy produced when water is photolysis is what fuels this movement, this creates a higher concentration of protons inside the thylakoid than in the stroma. protons move down the concentration gradient into the stroma via the carrier protein ATP synthase. as they move through the protein, they change the shape of the enzyme which catalyses the combination of ADP and Pi
30
what is the equation for the photolysis of water
2H20 -> 4H+ + 4e- + O2
31
what happens to the protons produced when water is photolysis
they pass out of the thylakoid via ATP synthase proteins, where they combine with electron carrier NADP reducing it. this NADP enters the light-independent stage taking with it the electrons created from the chlorophyll molecules
32
where does the light-dependent reaction takes place
the thylakoid of chloroplasts
33
how are chloroplasts adapted for the light-dependent reaction
the thylakoid membranes proved a large surface area. proteins hold the chlorophyll in a precise manner that allows maximum absorption of light. chloroplasts contain DNA and ribosomes so can quickly produce proteins required. the membranes have ATP synthase within them, which catalyses the formation of ATP
34
what is another name for the light-independent reaction
the Calvin cycle
35
where does the light-independent reaction take place
the stroma of the chloroplasts
36
what happens in the light-independent reaction
co2 diffuses into the leaf through the stomata and then into the stroma. here the co2 combines with RuBP in a reaction catalysed by rubisco. this forms an unstable 6 carbon compound which quickly breaks down into two molecules of GP. the hydrolysis of ATP provides energy and reduced NADP provides H+ ions to turn this GP into TP. the NADP goes back to the light-dependent reaction to accept more protons. some TP is turned into glucose and the rest continues to regenerate RuBP
37
how many carbons are there in RuBP
5
38
how many carbons are there in GP
3
39
how many times does the Calvin Cycle need to occur to produce one hexose sugar
6
40
how are the chloroplasts adapted for the light-independent reaction
the matrix of the stroma contains all necessary enzymes. the stromal fluid surrounds the grana so products of the light-dependent reaction in the grana can diffuse into the stroma. contains DNA and ribosomes so can easily make necessary proteins
41
what are the optimum conditions for photosynthesis
high light intensity. temperature at 25c. carbon dioxide at 0.4%
42
why is a high light intensity required for photosynthesis
it provides the energy for the light-independent reaction
43
why is a temperature at 25c required for photosynthesis
it is the optimum temperatures for enzymes like rubisco
44
what is the saturation point
where the rate of respiration = rate of photosynthesis so there is no net movement of gas in the plant

A-level Biology (19 decks)

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