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Photosynthesis

Biological Sciences

Autotrophs
Also called producers, autotrophs are
organisms that can make their own food
Most autotrophs are green plants
Green plants make their food by
photosynthesis
Photosynthesis occurs in cell organelles
known as chloroplasts

The Role of Photosynthesis


Plants
Animals
The Atmosphere
Fossil Fuels

Photosynthesis
Light is used as a form of energy
Glucose and oxygen are formed from
carbon dioxide and water
Chlorophyll is used as a catalyst
Chlorophyll is a green pigment

The Sun
A source of energy
Many forms of Solar radiation
Infrared rays, ultraviolet rays and Light
rays

Energy
Energy to cells is best supplied by the
breakdown of ATP
Light energy makes ATP during
photosynthesis
Plants use ATP to make glucose

Adenosine Triphosphate
Plants use stored glucose to re-form ATP to
provide themselves with cellular energy
Animals consume glucose made by plants
and convert it to ATP for their own use
Solar energy is the basic source of energy for
all organisms

The main events of


Photosynthesis
1. Light is absorbed
2. Water is split
3. The resulting products are used and oxygen is
released
4. Light energizes electrons
5. Glucose is formed
1-4: light stage

5: Dark stage (Calvin Cycle)

Main events of photosynthesis

1. Light is absorbed
Sunlight strikes the plant and is trapped
by chlorophyll
This sunlight provides the energy
needed for the plant to make glucose

2. Water is split
The trapped energy from the sun is
used to split water molecules
When two water molecules are split
they form four protons, four electrons
and a molecule of oxygen gas.

3. Products of the splitting of


water
Electrons are passed to chlorophyll
Protons are stored in the chloroplast for
later use
Oxygen can pass from the chloroplast
out into the cytoplasm and eventually
be released by the leaf
Alternatively Oxygen can be used within
the cells or leaf during plant respiration

4. Light Energizes Electrons

Sunlight energy trapped by chlorophyll is


passed on to electrons in chlorophyll to
form high energy electrons

5. Glucose is formed
These high energy electrons along with
protons and carbon dioxide combine to
form glucose
Glucose is a carbohydrate (C6H12O6)

Sources for Photosynthesis


Light
Carbon dioxide
Water

To investigate the influence of


light intensity on the rate of
photosynthesis
Activity 12
P110

Apparatus
Water bath(25C
Lamp
Test tube
Thermometer
Elodea (Canadian Pondweed)
Sodium bicarbonate
pH7 Buffer

Method
1. Set up experiment as shown in
diagram 11.4
2. Allow Elodea to stabilise for 5 minutes
3. Count the number of bubbles of
oxygen coming from the cut end of the
stem per minute for 3 minutes.
4. Increase the light intensity by moving
the lamp closer to the apparatus
5. Repeat steps at 80, 60, 40 and 20cm.

Recording Results
Convert from distance (cm) into light
intensity by using the following formula
Light Intensity =

10 000
(distance)
Find average number of bubbles per
minute

Record Results

In the form of a table as follows

Distance from
lamp (cm)

Light intensity

Average bubbles
per mim

100
80

1
1.56

9
13

60
40

2.78
6.25

17
17

20

25

17

Recording Results
Draw a graph of the rate of bubble
production(Photosynthesis vs. light intensity

Conclusion

The rate of bubble production increases as


the lamp is moved closer to the apparatus

Therefore the rate of photosynthesis


increasing with the intensity of light

At 60cm the rate of bubble production


ceases to increase.

At this point the plant is said to be saturated


with light

Detailed Study of Photosynthesis


(Higher level only)
Occurs in two stages in the chloroplast
The Light stage- dependant on light
The Dark stage (Calvin Cycle)-light
independent
Dark stage depends on products produced
during the light stage

Light Stage
Takes place in the chloroplast and
involves electrons flowing
This reaction is not controlled by
enzymes
Involves Four steps

1. Light Absorption
White light is made up of seven different
colours or wavelengths of light
Chloroplasts actually contain a number
of different pigments including
chlorophyll
Each pigment observes a different
colour of light
Green light is normally reflected by light

2. Light energy transferred to


Electrons
Clusters of pigments contain a variety of
pigments, a strategically placed chlorophyll
molecule alongside an electron acceptor
The pigment transfer absorbed energy
between each other until it reaches the
chlorophyll with its associated electron
acceptor

2. Light energy transferred to


Electrons
Here energy is transferred to electrons
Electrons flow from the acceptor along
one of two pathways

3. Pathway 1
Energised electrons are passed to a
series of other electron acceptors and
back to the chlorophyll molecule
As the electrons move through the
pathway they lose energy
The energy is trapped by ADP and a
phosphate and used to form ATP and
Water

Pathway 1

4. Pathway 2
2 excited electrons are again passed
through a series of electron acceptors
Energised electrons loose energy as
they pass from acceptor to acceptor
forming ATP
Electrons combine with NADP+ to form
NADP-

Pathway 2
Chlorophyll gains new electrons from
the splitting of water and protons are
produced and stored in the chloroplast
These protons are attracted to NADP and combine to reduce it to NADPH

Pathway 2

End Products of the Light Stage


ATP
NADPH
Oxygen

The Dark Stage


Also known as the Calvin cycle
Takes place in the Stroma
Controlled by enzymes

The Calvin Cycle


Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
enters into the chloroplast
Combines with Hydrogen ions and
electrons to form glucose(C6H12O6)
Energy is supplied from the conversion
of ATP back into ADP + P

Extra Slides which may be


of interest

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