Photosynthesis
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• Autotrophic Process: Plants and plant-like organisms
make their energy (glucose) from sunlight.
• Stored as carbohydrate in their bodies.
• 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight C6H12O6 + 6O2
Why is Photosynthesis important?
Makes organic molecules (glucose) out
of inorganic materials (carbon dioxide
and water).
It begins all food chains/webs. Thus
all life is supported by this process.
It also makes oxygen gas!!
Photosynthesis-starts all ecological food webs!
Photo-synthesis
means "putting together with light."
Plants use sunlight to turn water
and carbon dioxide into glucose.
Glucose is a kind of sugar.
Plants use glucose as food for
energy and as a building block for
growing.
Autotrophs make glucose and
heterotrophs are consumers of it.
Photosynthesis
sunlight
Carbon dioxide + water glucose + oxygen
absorbed by chlorophyll
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy C6H12O6 + 6O2
As can be seen from the equation for photosynthesis, the
wood, bark, and root came from water and carbon
dioxide.
The photograph below is an elodea leaf X 400.
Individual cells are clearly visible. The tiny
green structures within the cells are
chloroplasts
this is where
photosynthesis
happens.
Plants
• Autotrophs: self-producers.
• Location:
1. Leaves
a. stoma
b. mesophyll cells
Mesophyll Chloroplast
Cell Stoma
Stomata (stoma)
• Pores in a plant’s cuticle through which water
and gases are exchanged between the plant and the
atmosphere.
Oxygen
(O2)
Carbon Dioxide
(CO2) Guard Cell Guard Cell
Mesophyll Cell
Nucleus
Cell Wall
Chloroplast
Central Vacuole
Chloroplast
• Organelle where photosynthesis takes place.
Stroma
Outer Membrane Thylakoid Granum
Inner Membrane
Chloroplasts make the sugars!
Chloroplasts
make the
oxygen too!
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• Absorbing light energy to make chemical
energy: glucose!
• Pigments: Absorb different colors of white light
(ROY G BIV)
• Main pigment: Chlorophyll a
• Accessory pigments: Chlorophyll b and Carotenoids
• These pigments absorb all wavelengths (light) BUT
green!
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• Why do we see green?
• Green color from white light
reflected NOT absorbed
• Chloroplast: organelle
responsible for photosynthesis
• Chlorophyll: located within
Chloroplast
• Green pigment
Visible light is only
a small part of the
electromagnetic
spectrum (all forms
of light).
• LIGHT behaves as if it were composed of
"units" or "packets" of energy that travel in
waves. These packets are photons.
• The wavelength of light determines its color.
Photosynthesis
Glucose provides the energy and
carbon needed to make other
plant materials like wax and
proteins.
• In plants and simple animals, waste products are removed
by diffusion. Plants, for example, excrete O2, a product of
photosynthesis.
EQUATION FOR
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
WATER OXYGEN
6CO2 + 6H2O +ENERGY C6H12O6 + 6O2
CARBON GLUCOSE
DIOXIDE
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• 2 Phases
• Light-dependent reaction
• Light-independent reaction
• Light-dependent: converts light energy into
chemical energy; produces ATP molecules to
be used to fuel light-independent reaction
• Light-independent: uses ATP produced to
make simple sugars.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• Light-dependent reaction (LIGHT Reaction)
• Requires light
• Occurs in chloroplast (in thylakoids)
• Chlorophyll (thylakoid) traps energy from light
• Light excites electron (e-)
• Kicks e- out of chlorophyll to an electron transport chain
• Electron transport chain: series of proteins in thylakoid
membrane
• Bucket brigade
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• Light-dependent reaction (LIGHT Reaction)
• Energy lost along electron transport chain
• Lost energy used to recharge ATP from ADP
• NADPH produced from e- transport chain
• Stores energy until transfer to stroma
• Plays important role in light-independent reaction
• Total byproducts: ATP, NADPH, O2
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• How did we get O2 as a byproduct?!
• Photolysis: replaces lost electrons by splitting
water
Sun
Light energy transfers to chlorophyll.
• At each step
along the
transport chain, Chlorophyll passes energy down through the
electron transport chain.
the electrons
lose energy.
Energized electrons provide energy that
to ADP
splits bonds P
H2 O
forming
H+ ATP
NADP+ oxygen
released
NADPH
for the use in
light-independent reactions
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• Light-independent reaction (Dark Reaction)
• Does not require light
• Calvin Cycle
• Occurs in stroma of chloroplast
• Requires CO2
• Uses ATP and NADPH as fuel to run
• Makes glucose sugar from CO2 and Hydrogen
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• What affects photosynthesis?
• Light intensity: as light increases, rate of
photosynthesis increases
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• What affects photosynthesis?
• Carbon Dioxide: As CO2 increases, rate of
photosynthesis increases
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• What affects photosynthesis?
• Temperature:
• Temperature Low = Rate of photosynthesis low
• Temperature Increases = Rate of photosynthesis increases
• If temperature too hot, rate drops
1. What is the reaction for photosynthesis?
2. What are the three reasons why photosynthesis is
important?
3. What is an autotroph?
4. What is a heterotroph?
5. What pigment makes plants green?
6. What are photons?
7. What are the light dependent reactions? What three
things come out of the reactions? Where do they
take place?
8. What are the light independent reactions? Where do
they take place?
9. Another name for the light independent reactions.
10. How does temperature affect photosynthesis?
