Photosynthesis (Important Terms)

Question 1

What do we call the range of light wavelengths a pigment can absorb?

Answer 1

Absorption spectrum

The absorption spectrum is specific to each pigment and shows the wavelengths that are most effective for absorption.

Question 2

What shows the effectiveness of different light wavelengths in photosynthesis?

Answer 2

Action spectrum

The action spectrum indicates which wavelengths of light are most effective in driving photosynthesis.

Question 3

What kind of reactions build larger molecules from smaller ones?

Answer 3

Anabolic reactions

Anabolic reactions are essential for growth and maintenance in organisms.

Question 4

What type of photosynthesis does not release oxygen?

Answer 4

Anoxygenic photosynthesis

This type of photosynthesis is performed by certain bacteria and does not involve water as an electron donor.

Question 5

What is the name for the group of pigments that collect light and pass it to the reaction center?

Answer 5

Antenna complex

The antenna complex enhances the efficiency of light capture in photosynthetic organisms.

Question 6

What enzyme makes ATP using the flow of protons?

Answer 6

ATP synthetase

ATP synthetase is critical in the process of chemiosmosis during cellular respiration and photosynthesis.

Question 7

What pigments do some bacteria use for photosynthesis?

Answer 7

Bacteriochlorophylls

Bacteriochlorophylls allow certain bacteria to perform photosynthesis under low light conditions.

Question 8

What cycle is used by most plants to fix carbon dioxide into sugars?

Answer 8

C₃ (Calvin/Benson) cycle

The C₃ cycle is the most common pathway for carbon fixation in plants.

Question 9

What special pathway helps plants like corn capture carbon dioxide more efficiently?

Answer 9

C₄ metabolism (C₄ photosynthesis)

C₄ photosynthesis allows plants to thrive in hot and dry environments by minimizing water loss.

Question 10

What is the process of making ATP by using a proton gradient across a membrane?

Answer 10

Chemiosmotic phosphorylation

This process is fundamental for energy production in both photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Question 11

What is the main pigment plants use for photosynthesis?

Answer 11

Chlorophyll a

Chlorophyll a is essential for capturing light energy in the photosynthetic process.

Question 12

What is the name for the process where plants store carbon dioxide at night to save water?

Answer 12

Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM)

CAM is an adaptation to arid conditions, allowing plants to optimize water use.

Question 13

What process makes extra ATP without making NADPH or releasing oxygen?

Answer 13

Cyclic electron transport

Cyclic electron transport is important for ATP production in certain conditions.

Question 14

What proteins move electrons during photosynthesis and respiration?

Answer 14

Cytochromes

Cytochromes play a key role in electron transport chains.

Question 15

What is the chain of molecules that moves electrons and creates a proton gradient?

Answer 15

Electron transport chain

This chain is crucial for both photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Question 16

What word describes the natural tendency toward disorder in the universe?

Answer 16

Entropy

Entropy is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics and affects biological processes.

Question 17

What is the name for Earth’s temperature rising due to trapped heat?

Answer 17

Global warming

Global warming is a significant environmental issue linked to climate change.

Question 18

What process makes glucose from non-carbohydrate materials?

Answer 18

Gluconeogenesis

Gluconeogenesis is crucial for maintaining blood sugar levels during fasting.

Question 19

What do we call a stack of thylakoids in a chloroplast?

Answer 19

Granum

Grana are important structures for the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

Question 20

What is the name for the warming effect caused by gases like CO₂ trapping heat?

Answer 20

Greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect is essential for maintaining Earth’s temperature but can lead to climate change if intensified.

Question 21

What kind of organisms must eat others to get energy?

Answer 21

Heterotrophs

Heterotrophs include animals, fungi, and many bacteria and require organic compounds for energy.

Question 22

What is the light level where photosynthesis and respiration are balanced?

Answer 22

Light compensation point

At this point, the rate of photosynthesis equals the rate of respiration.

Question 23

What reactions capture sunlight to make ATP and NADPH?

Answer 23

Light-dependent reactions

These reactions occur in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts.

Question 24

What electron transport method produces both ATP and NADPH?

Answer 24

Noncyclic electron transport

Noncyclic electron transport is vital for the overall photosynthetic process.

Question 25

What term tracks how many electrons an atom has gained or lost?

Answer 25

Oxidation state ## Footnote Understanding oxidation states is important in redox reactions.

Question 26

What is ATP production using oxygen in mitochondria called?

Answer 26

Oxidative phosphorylation ## Footnote This process is the final stage of cellular respiration.

Question 27

What kind of compounds have lost electrons?

Answer 27

Oxidized compounds ## Footnote Oxidized compounds are often involved in energy transfer.

Question 28

What type of photosynthesis releases oxygen?

Answer 28

Oxygenic photosynthesis ## Footnote Oxygenic photosynthesis is performed by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.

Question 29

What gas, made of three oxygen atoms, protects us from UV radiation?

Answer 29

Ozone ## Footnote The ozone layer is critical for life on Earth by filtering harmful UV rays.

Question 30

What sugar molecule is made in the Calvin Cycle?

Answer 30

3-phosphoglyceraldehyde (PGAL) ## Footnote PGAL can be converted into glucose and other carbohydrates.

Question 31

What do we call organisms like plants that make their own food using sunlight?

Answer 31

Photoautotrophs ## Footnote Photoautotrophs are essential for the base of the food chain.

Question 32

What tiny packets carry light energy?

Answer 32

Photons ## Footnote Photons are the fundamental units of light and play a key role in photosynthesis.

Question 33

What is the process of making ATP during photosynthesis called?

Answer 33

Photophosphorylation ## Footnote Photophosphorylation occurs in the thylakoid membranes.

Question 34

What wasteful process happens when plants accidentally grab oxygen instead of carbon dioxide?

Answer 34

Photorespiration ## Footnote Photorespiration can reduce the efficiency of photosynthesis.

Question 35

Which photosystem boosts electron energy to make NADPH?

Answer 35

Photosystem I ## Footnote Photosystem I is essential for the production of NADPH in photosynthesis.

Question 36

Which photosystem splits water and starts electron flow?

Answer 36

Photosystem II ## Footnote Photosystem II is the first step in the light-dependent reactions.

Question 37

What kind of molecule absorbs specific wavelengths of light?

Answer 37

Pigment ## Footnote Pigments are crucial for capturing light energy in photosynthesis.

Question 38

What protein moves electrons between Photosystem II and Photosystem I?

Answer 38

Plastocyanin ## Footnote Plastocyanin is part of the electron transport chain in photosynthesis.

Question 39

What molecules carry electrons in the thylakoid membrane?

Answer 39

Plastoquinones ## Footnote Plastoquinones play a key role in the electron transport chain.

Question 40

What term describes how suitable the sunlight’s color is for photosynthesis?

Answer 40

Quality of sunlight ## Footnote The quality of sunlight affects the efficiency of photosynthesis.

Question 41

What is the smallest packet of energy called?

Answer 41

Quantum ## Footnote Quanta are essential for understanding how light interacts with matter.

Question 42

What part of the photosystem actually captures light and excites electrons?

Answer 42

Reaction center ## Footnote The reaction center is critical for initiating the photosynthetic process.

Question 43

What kind of compounds have gained electrons?

Answer 43

Reduced compounds ## Footnote Reduced compounds are often involved in energy storage and transfer.

Question 44

What do we call the ability to donate electrons?

Answer 44

Reducing power ## Footnote Reducing power is important in biochemical reactions.

Question 45

What molecule grabs carbon dioxide in the Calvin Cycle?

Answer 45

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) ## Footnote RuBP is essential for the fixation of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis.

Question 46

What enzyme attaches carbon dioxide to RuBP?

Answer 46

RuBP carboxylase (RUBISCO) ## Footnote RUBISCO is the most abundant enzyme on Earth and plays a key role in carbon fixation.

Question 47

What is the fluid inside a chloroplast called?

Answer 47

Stroma ## Footnote The stroma is where the Calvin Cycle occurs.

Question 48

What reactions happen in the stroma to build sugar?

Answer 48

Stroma reactions ## Footnote These reactions utilize ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions.

Question 49

What is the method of making ATP by directly transferring a phosphate?

Answer 49

Substrate-level phosphorylation ## Footnote This method occurs in both glycolysis and the Krebs cycle.

Question 50

What is the inside space of a thylakoid where protons build up?

Answer 50

Thylakoid lumen ## Footnote The accumulation of protons in the thylakoid lumen is crucial for ATP synthesis.

Question 51

What diagram shows how electrons are boosted twice in photosynthesis?

Answer 51

Z scheme ## Footnote The Z scheme illustrates the flow of electrons through the photosystems.