HL IB Biology Photosynthesis Notes Part 1 Mrs.

Wang-Martin

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Photosynthesis converts light energy to the chemical energy of food

Chloroplast:
- organelle in plants where photosynthesis occurs
- approx 24 m by 47 m.
- found in
o all green parts of plant including green stems, unripened fruit
o leaves
in mesophyll cells within the tissue in the interior of the
leaf
contain the most chloroplasts, 30-40 per cell
- contains 2 membranes, inner and outer
- contains stroma area enclosed by double membrane
o contains dense fluid
o contains enzymes for Calvin cycle
- contain grana stacks of thylakoids
- thylakoids - interconnected membranous sacs
o thylakoid membranes
contain chlorophylls green pigments, the main
photosynthetic pigment
provide large surface area for light absorption
o thylakoid space = space inside a thylakoids
small space is good for accumulation of protons

Note: Photosynthetic prokaryotes
- lack chloroplasts
- instead contain photosynthetic membranes
o from infolded regions of the plasma membrane
o function in a manner similar to the thylakoid membranes




HL IB Biology Photosynthesis Notes Part 1 Mrs. Wang-Martin


























Overall chemical equation of photosynthesis

6CO
2


+ 12 H
2
O + energy C
6
H
12
O
6
+ O
2
+ 6H
2
O
(glucose) (new water formed)
- chloroplast splits water as a source of electrons from hydrogen atoms
o oxygen is released as a byproduct
- the carbon in CO
2
is used to make organic molecules


HL IB Biology Photosynthesis Notes Part 1 Mrs. Wang-Martin
Overview of Photosynthesis
2 stages:
- light reactions
o the photo part
- light independent reactions (Calvin cycle)
o the synthesis part




























HL IB Biology Photosynthesis Notes Part 1 Mrs. Wang-Martin

Light-dependent reaction
Overall: Converts light energy to NADPH & ATP
- occurs in the thylakoids of the chloroplast light absorbed by
chlorophyll splits hydrogen and oxygen in water
- electrons & hydrogen from water are transferred to NADP
+
to form
NADPH
o NADP
+
= nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
- O
2
given off as a by-product
- ATP are made from ADP + P
i
via chemiosmosis -
photophosphorylation

Light-independent reaction (Calvin Cycle)
Overall: Uses energy from NADPH & ATP to make organic molecules
- occurs in the stroma
- does not require light directly
- CO
2
from the air is incorporated into organic molecules already
present in the chloroplast process = carbon fixation
- Fixed carbon is reduced to carbohydrate by the addition of
electrons
- reducing power is provided by NADPH, which has energized
electrons from the light reactions, and ATP
HL IB Biology Photosynthesis Notes Part 1 Mrs. Wang-Martin
Light Energy
light is a form of electromagnetic energy

This entire range of radiation is known as the electromagnetic
spectrum















the sun radiates the full spectrum of electromagnetic energy

earth atmosphere blocks most of the electromagnetic energy and
allows mostly only visible light in

IB: Light from the sun is composed of a range of wavelengths

visible light = the radiation that drives photosynthesis
segment most important to life
380 nm to 750 nm in wavelength
380 nm - 525 nm = violet-blue
525 nm - 625 nm = green-yellow
625 nm - 700 nm = orange-red

HL IB Biology Photosynthesis Notes Part 1 Mrs. Wang-Martin
Light behaves as waves and particles (Photons)

Light as Waves
- wavelength = distance between the crests of electromagnetic
waves
o measures energy shorter wavelength = higher energy

Light as Particles
- Photons: act like objects by having fixed quantity of energy
- a photon of violet light packs nearly twice as much energy as a
photon of red light.

Pigments
when light meets matter it may be:
- reflected
- transmitted
- absorbed

pigments = substances that absorb visible light
- the light absorbed will disappear
- the light not absorbed will be transmitted and reflected and seen by
the eye
o black - all wavelengths of light are absorbed
o white - all wavelengths of light are transmitted and reflected
o green leaf - b/c chlorophyll absorbs violetblue & red light
while transmitting and reflecting green light








HL IB Biology Photosynthesis Notes Part 1 Mrs. Wang-Martin
Measuring wavelengths of light
Spectrophotometer = instrument that measures the fraction of light
transmitted at each wavelength
- directs beams of light of different wavelengths through a solution
of a pigment
- measures the fraction of the light transmitted at each wavelength



























HL IB Biology Photosynthesis Notes Part 1 Mrs. Wang-Martin
Absorption Spectrum
- values obtained from spectrophotometer may be plotted on a graph
called absorption spectrum
o pigments light absorption versus wavelength











Action spectrum
- Measures rate of reaction at different wavelengths of radiation
- Graphs reaction rate versus wavelength
- ex: Photosynthesis - Rate of CO
2
consumption vs wavelength







HL IB Biology Photosynthesis Notes Part 1 Mrs. Wang-Martin
Pigments in Chloroplasts

3 types of pigments in chloroplasts:

chlorophyll a:
Absorbs: violetblue & red light works best for photosynthesis
Reflect/transmit: green light not used for photosynthesis

chlorophyll b:
considered to be accessory pigment
Absorbs: blue & orange works best for photosynthesis
Reflect/transmit: green light not used for photosynthesis

carotenoids:
also an accessory pigment
Absorbs: violet & bluegreen light helps in photosynthesis
Reflect/transmit: yellow & orange
also used as photoprotection - absorbs and dissipate excessive
light energy that would damage chlorophylls or react with
oxygen to form dangerous molecules
considered phytochemicals to human b/c of antioxidant powers
carrots contain carotenoids a good phytochemical,
protects eyes
HL IB Biology Photosynthesis Notes Part 1 Mrs. Wang-Martin
Photosynthesis Spectra
the action spectrum for photosynthesis looks similar to the absorption
spectrum of chlorophyll a with the absorption spectra of chlorophyll
b and carotenoids mixed in














efficiency of photosynthesis = percentage of light of a wavelength
that is used in photosynthesis
- violet and blue light are used most efficiently
- red light is used efficiently
- green light is not used efficiently

Algae Laminaria saccharina contains carotene, fucoxanthin,
chlorophylls
- can absorb and use all wavelengths of light