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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Photosynthesis


What is photosynthesis? Give the equation!

Photosynthesis is a a process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight.

photosynthesis equation

What is an autotroph?

Autotrophs are "self-feeders".

How does Ps relate to fall leaf colors?

Plants change their leaves color in the fall. Most leaves include the chlorophyll (green), xathophyll (yellow) and carotene (orange) pigments, but chlorophyll is much than the others. It covers other two. During fall, the strength of light is weaker and the temperature drops, too. Plants/leaves adopt to it by breaking down chlorophyll. N and Mg (building chlorophyll) are salvaged and moved into the stem for next year. Now other, accessory pigments are reflected the most and give leaves diverse “fall” colors.

Facts:

- Photosynthesis converts light energy to chemical energy of food!

- The light reactions convert solar energyto the chemical energy of ATP and NADPH.

- The Calvin Cycle uses ATP and NADPH to convert carbon dioxide to sugar.

- Alternative mechanisms of carbon fixation have evolved in hot, arid climates.

- All green parts of plants have chloroplasts.

Key terms:

Autotrophs – self feeders

Heterotrophs – obtain their organic material by the second major mode of nutrition, unable to make their own food

Chlorophyll – the green pigment within chloroplasts

Mesophyll – the tissue in the interior of the leaf

Stroma – the dense fluid within the chloroplasts

Thylakoids – interconnected membranous sacs

Grana – thylakoid coumn

Photophosphorylation – adition of a phosphate group to ADP

Carbon fixation – initial incorporation of carbon into organic compounds

Wavelength – the distance between the crest of electromagnetic waves

Summary:

Photosynthesis is a process in which light energy is converted to chemical energy and used to produce organic compounds. In plants, photosynthesis occurs within the chloroplasts. Photosynthesis consists of2 stages, the light and the dark reactions. The light reactions convert light into energy (ATP, NADPH) and the dark reactions use energy and carbon dioxide to produce sugar.

Extra: light dependant reaction of photosynthesis video!

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