Photosynthesis Flashcards
atom
The smallest basic unit of matter
molecule
Two or more atoms bonded by shared electrons
ATP
A molecule made up of subunits adenine and ribose, as well as three phosphate groups. it is an energy carrier.
photosynthesis
To capture and transform light energy from the sun and store it in high-energy sugar molecules
chloroplast
An organelle where light absorption and photosynthesis take place in plant cells
cyanobacteria
An aquatic single celled photosynthetic organism that evolved 3.5 billion years ago
glucose
A sugar made by plants to store energy
absorb
To take up or receive by chemical or molecular action
reflect
To cast back from a surface
chlorophyll
Pigment molecules inside a chloroplast
thylakoids
The disk shaped sacs that are in the inner membrane of the chloroplast
electron transport chain
a stage in photosynthesis where electrons’ energy is used to pump hydrogen ions into the thylakiod making a build up of ions
ion
an electrically charged atom or group of atoms formed by the loss or gain of one or more electrons,
light-dependent reaction
a reaction that occurs during photosynthesis in the thylakiods when light is absorbed
light-independent reaction
A reaction that occurs during photosynthesis in the stroma without light
stroma
A fluid located in the interior of chloroplast’s inner membrane and surrounding the thylakoids
The Calvin Cycle
the second stage of photosynthesis that uses energy from light dependent reactions (ATP and NADPH) to make sugar
producers
organisms that take energy from the sun and convert it into food
