Respiration and photosynthesis in organisms Flashcards
(40 cards)
Plants are
autotrophs
Autotrophs definition
This means they can make their own food using light, water and carbon dioxide
Photosynthesis is an
endothermic reaction
What happens during photosynthesis?
Energy is transferred from the environment to the chloroplasts by light
Where does the most photosynthesis happen?
In the leaves of the plant, in specialised mesophyll cells which are packed with chloroplasts containing chlorophyll to absorb as much light energy as possible.
How are the reactants for photosynthesis obtained by a plant?
- carbon dioxide: diffuses into the leaf through the stomata
- water: taken up by the roots and transported through the xylem to the leaves.
products of photosynthesis
Glucose- it is used to make substances needed by the plant. It is used in respiration to release energy.
oxygen- diffuses out of the leaf through the stomata. It is used in respiration.
What does a plant need in order to photosynthesise?
light, water and carbon dioxide
The availability of light and carbon dioxide
can affect how much and how quickly (the rate) photosynthesis occurs
Why is water not considered a limiting factor?
-the amount needed is relatively small compared to the amount of water transpired from a plant so there is hardly ever a situation where there is not enough water for photosynthesis
What can affect the rate of photosynthesis?
- temperature
- the amount of chlorophyll in the chloroplasts
- light
- carbon dioxide
Temperature
-The temperature of the environment affects how much kinetic energy all particles have – so temperature affects the speed at which carbon dioxide and water move through a plant
-The lower the temperature, the less kinetic energy particles have, resulting in fewer successful collisions occurring over a period of time
I-ncreasing temperature increases the kinetic energy of particles, increasing the likelihood of collisions between reactants and enzymes which results in the formation of products
-At higher temperatures, however, enzymes that control the processes of photosynthesis can be denatured (where the active site changes shape and is no longer complementary to its substrate) – this reduces the overall rate
Light
- The intensity of the light available to the plant will depend on the amount of energy that it has to carry out photosynthesis
- The more light a plant receives, the faster the rate of photosynthesis
- This trend will continue until some other factor required for photosynthesis prevents the rate from increasing further because it is now in short supply
Carbon dioxide concentration
- Carbon dioxide is one of the raw materials required for photosynthesis
- This means the more carbon dioxide that is present, the faster the reaction can occur
- This trend will continue until some other factor required for photosynthesis prevents the rate from increasing further because it is now in short supply
Chlorophyll
- The number of chloroplasts (as they contain the pigment chlorophyll which absorbs light energy for photosynthesis) will affect the rate of photosynthesis
- The more chloroplasts a plant has, the faster the rate of photosynthesis
- The amount of chlorophyll can be affected by:
- diseases (such as tobacco mosaic virus)
- lack of nutrients (such as magnesium)
- loss of leaves (fewer leaves means fewer chloroplasts)
light intensity
1/ distance
Growing in a greenhouse
- Commercial horticulturists will grow their plants in a greenhouse
- This means that they are able to control as many of the limiting factors of photosynthesis as possible
- Limiting factors are important in the economics of enhancing the conditions in greenhouses to gain the maximum rate of photosynthesis while still maintaining profit
- Keeping plants in a greenhouse has associated costs, but the increased yield of the crop and fact that the crop can be harvested more frequently, means that the farmer will make more money
- The levels of heat, light, water, carbon dioxide and nutrients are carefully controlled so only the smallest amounts needed are used so that farmers are not wasting money
- Eg. spending money on increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide beyond a point when some other factor limits the rate of photosynthesis is a waste
Greenhouse adaptations
- ventilation helps prevent plants getting too hot
- shades removed from ceiling to allow maximum light
- artificial light for winter/darker hours
- heater burns paraffin and produces CO2
- watering system to make sure plants stay well watered
- Greenhouse traps the suns heat so that temperature doesn’t limit photosynthesis
- keeping plants in greenhouse makes it easier to keep from pests and diseases and add fertiliser
How may the glucose produced in photosynthesis be used?
Used for respiration (both aerobic and anaerobic)- to release energy for cell
Converted into insoluble starch for storage in the stems, leaves and roots- won’t affect osmosis in cells
Used to produce fat or oil for storage (especially in seeds)
Used to produce cellulose, which strengthens the cell wall
Combined with nitrate ions absorbed from the soil to produce amino acids for protein synthesis
converted into sucrose for transport around the plant
What is a test to show that a plant is photosynthesising?
-to test the leaf for the presence of starch using iodine (This can be used to show the effect of light on photosynthesis).
Cellular respiration
- Cellular respiration is an exothermic reaction which is continuously occurring in living cells
- The chemical process of cellular respiration releases energy
- The energy transferred supplies all the energy needed for living processes to occur within cells and organisms as a whole
What do organisms need energy for?
- Chemical reactions to build larger molecules from smaller molecules
- Muscle contraction to allow movement
- Keeping warm (to maintain a constant temperature suitable for enzyme activity)
Uses of energy in the body of humans
- maintenance of a constant body temperature
- passage of nerve impulses
- muscle contraction
- protein synthesis
- active transport
- cell division and growth
Aerobic respiration
- Respiration in cells can take place aerobically (using oxygen) to transfer energy; glucose is reacted with oxygen in this process
- Aerobic respiration uses oxygen and most of the reaction takes place in the mitochondria