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A2 biology unit 4 > Photosynthesis > Flashcards

Photosynthesis Flashcards

(40 cards)

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1
Q

Photosynthesis

A

Process by which green plants make their own food:

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2
Q

Autotrophs

A

Make sure of inorganic compounds such as water and carbon dioxide to make complex compounds, hence plants are photoautotrophs

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3
Q

Photosynthesis products

A

Glucose but its derivatives are starch, cellulose, proteins, DNA, lipids, RNA

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4
Q

Features of light

A

Wave length
intensity
Duration
- To be used as energy source for organisms light is first converted to chemical energy: transduction

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5
Q

Quanta and Photon

A

Radiant energy comes in discrete pockets called quanta

A single quantum of light is called a photon

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6
Q

Chemical equation for photosynthesis

A

6CO2 + 6H2O –> C6H1206 + 6O2

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7
Q

Reduction process

A

Carbon dioxide is chemically reduced by the addition of hydrogen.
Carbon dioxide has been fixed in photosynthesis - incorporated of carbon dioxide into glucose

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8
Q

Oxidised

A

Water is oxidised

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9
Q

Stages

A

Light dependent and Light Independent

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10
Q

Light dependent: location + products

A

Thylakoid membrane of chloroplast
Cyclic and non-cyclic stages
Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll to produce ATP, and NADPH (reduced NADP)
Using H atoms from water and releasing oxygen gas

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11
Q

Light Independent: location + products

A

Stroma of the chloroplast
Calvin Cycle
Products: reduced carbon dioxide to carbohydrates, NADP bring hydrogen to reduce carbon dioxide
Driven by energy from the hydrolysis of ATP (not direct sunlight)

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12
Q

Co-enzymes

A
  • A molecule that aids the function of an enzyme
    Work by transferring a chemical group from one molecule to another
    Involved in photosynthesis - as NADP (transfer of hydrogen to one molecule to another
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13
Q

Redox reactions: Reduction

A

If something is reduced it has gained electrons and hydrogen or lost oxygen

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14
Q

Redox reactions: Oxidation

A

If something is oxidised it has lost hydrogen and electrons or gained oxygen
Oxidation of one molecule always involves the reductions of another

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15
Q

Features of leaves

A

Large surface area to volume with chlorophyll located close to the top of the surface
Thin structure for rapid light penetration
Network of air spaces for gases to reach the photosynthetic tissue
Vessels to transport water and take away to photosynthates - via the phloem

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16
Q

Photosynthates

A

Sucrose and amino acids

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17
Q

Chloroplast: structure

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A

A type of organelle known as plastids (with colour)
Double membrane bounded / biconvex disc shape (5mm diameter)
Has internal membranes - thylakoid membrane, stack=granum + stroma

18
Q

Thylakoid membrane - granum

Study These Flashcards
A

Site of Light dependent stage
Contain PS l and PS ll (a form of chlorophyll)
electron carriers
ATP synthase (catalyse ATP formation)

19
Q

Stroma

Study These Flashcards
A

Jelly like substance

location of Light Independent stage

20
Q

Chloroplast adaptations

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A

Envelope: keeps reactants for photosynthesis close to reaction sites
Thylakoid: offers large S>A for light absorption
ATP synthase: an enzyme that makes ATP in LDR
Stroma: contains enzymes, sugars and organic acids for the LIR

21
Q

Chlorophyll

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A

Absorbs light of all wave lengths other than green(reflected)
IS a mixture of chemicals - chlorophyll a / chlorophyll b / carotenoids (carotenes +xanthophylls)

22
Q

Carotenoids

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A

called accessory pigments. They absorb light of different wave lengths from chlorophyll and than pass on the energy to the chlorophyll molecule. More pigments = leaf able to to absorb a greater range of wave lengths

23
Q

Absorption spectrum

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A

It shows the amount of light absorbed by chlorophyll or its component pigments at different wave lengths

24
Q

Action spectrum

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A

Shows the rate of photosynthesis of a plant at different wave lengths i.e. it shows how effective these pigments are in stimulating photosynthesis.

25
absorption + action spectrum relationship
Blue + red wave lengths which are strongly absorbed are also wave lengths which stimulate photosynthesis. Photosynthesis depends on the effectiveness of different wave lengths in absorbing light
26
LDS: excitation of an electron
- Photon of light its chlorophyll molecule - Energy is transferred to the other electrons in the molecule - Electrons raised to a higher energy If they are raised to a high enough level they will dissociate - Electrons are picked up by an electron acceptor - ATP is formed as the electron is passed along the electron transport chain - As electrons are going down the electron transport chain energy is released which is used to combine ADP+Pi to make ATP
27
LDS: Cyclic photophosphorylation
Only uses PS l - The excited electron is passed along a series of electron carriers. As it moves from one carrier to the next, each carrier becomes reduced then re-oxidised in a series of redox reactions. Each carrier in the sequence has a lower energy level than the preceding one, so the electrons are passed along, enough energy is released to synthesise ATP from ADP+Pi. The Electron is passed along a series of carriers the last one handing it back to the chlorophyll molecule, so it may be excited once again.
28
LDS: Non cyclic photophosphorylation
- An excited electron from PS ll passes to an electron acceptor and down an electron transfer chain to PS l which is at a lower level than PS 11 - This loss of energy allows the synthesis of ATP from ADP+Pi - The loss an electron from PS ll stimulates loss of electrons from water (photolysis) - This electron released by photolysis enters PS ll to replace the electron lost by chlorophyll after absorption of light. - light energy can then excite an electron from PS l and this electron passes to an electron acceptor NADP - NADP also takes up a hydrogen ion from water = NADPH
29
Photolysis of water
2H2o --> 4H+ + O2 + 4e- Produces: hydrogen ions / electrons / oxygen Each electron is recombined with a proton to form a hydrogen atom which is taken up by the hydrogen carrier NADP to form NADPH
30
Photolysis of water: protons
(H+ions) build up in the thylakoid lumen and then transfers too hydrogen acceptor
31
Photolysis of water: electrons
(e-)replace the excited chlorophyll electrons that moved up the chain. These must be replaced for the molecule to become stable and thus absorb light.
32
Photolysis of water: oxygen
diffuses out of the chloroplast and eventually into the air as waste product
33
Chemiosis
Formation of ATP As light excited electrons move along the electron transport chain it releases energy. The energy released is used to transport protons to the thylakoid membrane The build up of H+ ions generates a proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane. This gradient is used to make ATP using ATP synthase enzyme as the H+ ions move through the spinning molecule Energy released from this aids the combining of ADP+Pi = ATP
34
LIS: Calvin cycle
Calvin cycle is made up of three steps - carbon fixing - reduction - regeneration
35
LIS: Calvin cycle - Carbon fixing
CO2 binds to a 5 carbon (5c) sugar ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) to form 2 molecules of the 3-carbon compound (3c) glycerate phosphate (GP) Uses the enzyme Rubisco
36
LIS: Calvin cycle - Reduction
Each GP molecule is reduced to form (3c) triose phosphate (GALP or TP) ATP and NADPH from LDS are used here ATP - provides the energy for this step NADPH - acts as a reducing agent and provides hydrogen The ADP and NADP return to the thylakoid membrane for recycling
37
LIS: Calvin cycle - Regeneration
Two GALP molecules turn into RuBP through the hydrolysis of ATP into ADP+Pi Synthesis of organic substances occurs after 6 turns
38
Regeneration: GALP --> cellulose
After 6 turns the GALP (3c) is converted into a hexose sugar (beta glucose). Enzyme catalysed reaction The B-glucose molecules chemically and repeatedly join up in condensation reactions to form 1, 4 glycosidic bonds between them The product is a long unbranched chain a glucose polymers. Neighbouring chains of these glucose polymers are held firmly together by cross-linking
39
Regeneration: GALP--> starch
After 6 turns GALP is turned into a hexose sugar (alpha glucose) The a-glucose molecules join up through condensation reactions form 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds Amylose: 1,4 glycosidic bonds - straight unbranched Amylopectin: 1,4 + 1,6 glycosidic bonds - branched
40
Regeneration: GALP --> DNA
After 6 turns GALP is turned into a hexose sugar glucose The glucose is then changed into a deoxyribose sugar With help of Nitrates, Phosphates (actively absorbed) and GALP, DNA bases are also synthesised and DNA formation process starts

A2 biology unit 4 (1 decks)

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