PHOTOSYNTHESIS 

How do light-dependent and light-independent reactions provide food for a plant?

Instructions:
Answer each question using information from the models provided. Use complete sentences
and evidence when appropriate.

Why?
Plants are the original solar panels. Through photosynthesis a plant is able to convert
electromagnetic (light) energy into chemical energy. This energy is used not only to keep the
plant alive, but also to sustain all creatures that rely on the plant for food and shelter. Plants
and photosynthetic algae are also the source of all oxygen on Earth, allowing the inhabitants of
Earth to benefit from our most plentiful renewable energy resource.

1. Consider the organelle illustrated in Model 1.

a. What is the name of this organelle?
A chloroplast

b. Is this organelle more likely to be found in animal cells or plant cells?

 Plant cell

2. The structures inside the organelle in Model 1 are called thylakoids. What compound
necessary for photosynthesis is contained in the thylakoids?
Chlorophyll

3. Consider the chemical reaction in Model 1. This represents photosynthesis.

a. What substances are the reactants​ in photosynthesis? Include the ​name ​and
chemical formula​ of each substance in your answer.
NAME: Carbon Dioxide
CHEMICAL FORMULA: CO2

NAME: Water
CHEMICAL FORMULA: H2O

b. Where in the organelle are these molecules stored before they are used in
photosynthesis?
The stroma

c. Is photosynthesis an ​endergonic ​or ​exergonic ​reaction? ​Support your answer

with evidence from Model 1.
Endergonic the reaction has sunlight on the left side,which means it has to be
absorbed.

d. What is the energy source for photosynthesis?

Sunlight

4. Photosynthesis occurs in two parts—the light-dependent reactions and the

light-independent reactions.
a. What is another name for the light-independent reactions?
The calvin cycle

b. In what part of the chloroplast do the light-dependent reactions occur?

thylakoid

c. In what part of the chloroplast do the light-independent reactions occur?

 In the stroma

5. Considering your answers to Question 4, what compound is best able to absorb the light
energy from the Sun and convert it into chemical energy?
chlorophyll

6. What substances are produced​ during photosynthesis? Include the ​name ​and​ chemical
formula​ of each substance in your answer.
NAME: Glucose
CHEMICAL FORMULA: C6H12O6

NAME: Oxygen
CHEMICAL FORMULA: O2

7. Why is it necessary to have ​six ​CO​2​ entering the chloroplast?

Photosynthesis reaction must be balanced. 6 carbons are needed to make
glucose so 6 molecules are needed
8. In Model 2, what shape or symbol represents a single electron?
Small black dot

9. In the light-dependent reactions electrons are released from molecules in two ways.
a. Find two places in Model 2 where electrons are released from chlorophyll by a
photon of light coming from the Sun.
On the stroma side of photosystem 1 and2.

b. Find one place in Model 2 where electrons are released from water molecules.
 The inner thylakoid side of photosystem 2.

c. When the electrons are released from water molecules, what other products are
formed?
Oxygen and hydrogen ions.

Read This!
The light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis include three major processes:
A. Excited electrons leave chlorophyll and reduce NADP+ into NADPH.
B. Excited electrons moving through the electron transport chain provide the free energy
needed to pump hydrogen ions into the inner thylakoid.
C. Hydrogen ions flowing out of the thylakoid via a protein channel provide the free energy
needed to convert ADP to ATP.

10. In Model 2, label the diagram with “A,” “B,” and “C” ​to indicate where the three
steps in the Read This! box are occurring.

11. The light-dependent reactions include an electron transport chain system that works in a
very similar fashion to the electron transport chain in respiration. Briefly ​describe ​how
this system works and what job it performs in the light-dependent reactions. (Your
answer should include a ​discussion ​about concentration gradient.)
The electron transport chain uses the energy from excited electrons to move
hydrogen ions across the thylakoid membrane in a direction that is against the
concentrationgradient which makes a higher concentration of H inside the
thylakoid membrane.

12. Refer to Model 2.

a. Name the embedded protein complex found in the thylakoid membrane that uses
excited electrons to reduce NADP+ into NADPH?
Photosystem 1

b. Name the embedded protein complex found in the thylakoid membrane that
provides excited electrons to the electron transport chain?
Photosystem 2
 c. Name the embedded protein complex found in the thylakoid membrane that
converts ADP to ATP using free energy from a flow of hydrogen ions.
ATP synthase

13. Once a chlorophyll molecule has released electrons it is no longer useful until those
electrons are replaced.
a. According to Model 2, what is the source of replacement electrons for those
released from photosystem I?
Electrons that have completed the electron transport chain

b. According to Model 2, what is the source of replacement electrons for those

released from photosystem II?
Electrons from splitting of water

14. Is carbon dioxide involved in the light-dependent reaction?

No, carbon dioxide is not involved.

15. Refer to Model 2.

a. Write a chemical reaction that summarizes all of the chemical reactions in
the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis starting with two water
molecules.
2H2O + 2NADP+ + 3ADP + 3Pi → O2 + 2NADPH + 3ATP

b. In the photosynthesis reaction in Model 1, twelve water molecules are shown as

reactants, but six water molecules are shown as products.​ Are any of the twelve
water molecules products of the light-dependent reactions?
No, because water molecules are notproducts of photosynthesis.

c. Calculate the​ total number of oxygen, NADPH, and ATP molecules ​that are
produced ​when ​twelve ​water molecules complete the light-dependent reactions.
OXYGEN: 6
NADPH: 12
ATP: 18

16. Where do the ATP and NADPH produced during the light-dependent reactions go when
the process is complete?
 To the calvin cycle

NOTE: PGAL, THE THREE CARBON SUGAR PRODUCED IN THE CALVIN CYCLE, IS
ALSO CALLED G3P.

17. According to Model 3, what are the three phases of the Calvin cycle?
Carbon fixation, reduction and regeneration.

18. Find the compound ribulose biphosphate (RuBP) in Model 3.

a. How many RuBP molecules are used in ​one turn ​of the Calvin cycle?
3

b. How many carbon atoms are in each RuBP molecule?

5
 c. Calculate the total number of carbon atoms represented in all of the RuBP
molecules used in ​one turn​ of the Calvin cycle.
15 carbon atoms

19. Ribulose biphosphate (RuBP) combines with carbon dioxide (CO​2​ ) to form
phosphoglycerate (PGA) during the carbon fixation phase of the Calvin cycle.
a. How many CO​2​ molecules are used in one turn of the Calvin cycle?
3 CO2 molecules are used each time.

b. How many PGA molecules are made in one turn of the Calvin cycle?
6 PGA molecules

c. How many carbon atoms are in each PGA molecule?

3 carbon atoms in each

d. Calculate the total number of carbon atoms represented in all of the PGA
molecules used in one turn of the Calvin cycle.
18 carbon atoms

20. Explain ​what happened to the carbon atoms from the carbon dioxide molecules that
entered the Calvin cycle.
The carbon atom from the CO2 was incorporated into the PGA molecules.

21. Consider the term “carbon fixation.” Write your own ​definition ​for carbon fixation in the
box below.
During photosynthesis carbon atoms are removed from the atmosphere and
fixed into larger molecules.

Read This!
Model 3 is a simplified version of the Calvin cycle. Each of the three phases in the cycle
consist of multiple reactions that are catalyzed by enzymes specific to that reaction. These
enzymes have names like RuBisCo, phosphoglycerate kinase, and PGAL hydrogenase.

22. Refer to the reduction phase of the Calvin cycle in Model 3.

 a. What molecule does the PGA molecule turn into during this phase of the Calvin
cycle?
The PGA molecule turns into a PGAL molecule.

b. Describe specifically how the structures of the two molecules in part a are
different.
The PGA molecules lose an oxygen molecule while it is changing to PGAL.

c. Identify the types and numbers of molecules that ​provide the free energy
necessary for the reduction of the PGA molecules.
6 ATP and 6 NADPH are used in the reduction.

d. Is the total number of carbon atoms present in the Calvin cycle changed during
the reduction phase? Support your answer with evidence from Model 3.
No the 6 PGAL molecules have 18 carbon atoms = to the 6 PGA molecules.

23. Water is a product of the reduction phase of the Calvin cycle.

a. How many water molecules are produced?
6

b. Explain where the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in these water molecules
originated (WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?)
The oxygen from the water molecule was removed from PGA while it turns
into PGAL. The hydrogen atoms came from the conversion of NADPH to
NADP+

24. Refer to the​ regeneration phase ​of the Calvin cycle in Model 3.
a. How many PGAL molecules continue on to the regeneration phase of the Calvin
cycle?
5

b. Identify the types and numbers of molecules that provide the free energy
necessary for the regeneration of these molecules.
3 ATP molecules provide the free energy for regeneration.

c. How many total carbon atoms remain in the Calvin cycle at this point?
 15

d. What molecule(s) are “regenerated” in this phase of the cycle?

3 RuPB

e. How many total carbon atoms leave the Calvin cycle before the regeneration
phase?
3

f. What happens to the PGAL molecule that does not continue on in the Calvin
cycle?
It is used by the cell to make glucose and other biomolecules.

Read This!
As you have learned from your careful study of the Calvin cycle illustrated in Model 3, three
atoms of carbon enter the cycle as carbon dioxide and three carbon atoms leave the cycle as
PGAL. It is easy to assume that the three atoms that leave are one and the same with the three
that entered, but that is incorrect. It may be that none of the carbon atoms from the carbon
dioxide become incorporated into a molecule of PGAL that leaves the cycle. Alternatively it is
also possible that one of the carbon atoms from the carbon dioxide will become part of a
PGAL molecule that leaves the cycle. Eventually all of the carbon atoms that enter the cycle
will leave as part of a PGAL molecule, but they must wait their turn.

25. The reaction in Model 1 shows glucose (C​6​ H​12​O​6​ ) as a product of photosynthesis.
a. How many PGAL molecules will it take to make one molecule of glucose? Justify
your answer with a discussion of numbers of carbon atoms.
2 PGAL molecules will be needed. Each PGAL molecule contains 3 carbon
atoms while a glucose molecule contains 6.

b. How many turns of the Calvin cycle will it take to make one molecule of glucose?
2

c. Calculate the total number of ATP and NADPH molecules used in the production
of ​one molecule of glucose.
2 turns 9 ATP+ 6 NADPH=18 ATP and 12 NAPH molecules required.
26. Where do the ADP and NADP+ go after they are used in the Calvin cycle?
They travel back to the thylakoid to be recycled in the light dependent reaction.

27. Explain in detail, using complete sentences, how the two reactions (light-dependent and
light-independent) depend on each other.
18 ATP molecules and 12NADPH molecules made during the light dependent
cycle are used to power the light independent cycle. As well as there are 18
ADP molecules and 12 NADP+molecules from the light independent cycle are
returned to the light dependent cycle.

28. For each molecule in the equation below, indicate whether it is involved (either used or
produced) in the ​light-dependent reactions​ or the​ Calvin cycle​.
6CO2 + 12H2 O → C6 H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2 O

29. Throughout photosynthesis, energy is transferred from light to several molecules with
increasingly higher potential energy. Use the words below to summarize the order in
which the energy flow occurs.

electrons ATP glucose sunlight

30. Although photosynthesis does produce some ATP, these molecules are not used to do the
work of the plant cells. What other process occurs in the cells that provides the ATP
necessary to do cellular work such as make proteins, divide cells, and move substances
across membranes?
Cellular respiration uses the glucose that was made in photosynthesis.