Photosynthesis

Yes
photosynthesis really is
this simple!

chlorophyll

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a method of
utilising light energy to
synthesise organic molecules
from inorganic sources; i.e. it
is autotrophic nutrition
.

In simple terms it is the conversion

of light energy into chemical energy
in organic molecules.
Summary equation
6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light + chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6 O2

In simple terms the energy needed to break the

bonds within carbon dioxide and water is
greater than the energy released when the
products glucose and oxygen are formed.
Therefore the products are at a higher energy
level than the reactants and act as a store of
chemical potential energy

Simple summary
Photosynthesis consists of two
separate but interdependent processes
which take place in the chloroplasts
P/S Chloroplasts Powerpoint

Light dependent stage

This stage is driven by light in the grana.
It converts light energy into usable
chemical
energy
in
ATP
by
photophosphorylation and a coenzyme
called reduced NADP which is a source of
reducing power with a high chemical
potential energy.

Light independent stage

This stage is driven by, and is dependent
on, the products of the light dependent stage
in the stroma. The ATP and reduced NADP
are used to produce sugars which are then
stored as starch. The short-term source of
chemical energy (ATP) has been converted
into a long term store of chemical potential
energy (starch).

Summary of the two stages of photosynthesis

Light dependent stage of

photosynthesis:
summary
Chlorophyll in thylakoid membranes in
chloroplasts absorbs light energy (especially red &
blue wavelengths)
and releases
excited electrons
11:

2: excited electrons pass along a series of

electron carriers (in the membranes of
the thylakoids of the chloroplast)
energy is released which is used to
generate ATP (chemical energy) from
ADP + Pi
this is photophosphorylation

3: excited electrons combine with the

protons from the photolysis of water together
with NADP to produce reduced NADP
NADP + 2 H+ + 2 e- reduced NADP

4. electrons lost from chlorophyll are replaced by

electrons from the photolysis of water
2H20 4H+ + O2
[catalysed by an enzyme complex associated with chlorophyll]

oxygen is the valuable waste product of

photolysis
All this occurs in the thylakoids of the grana of
the chloroplasts

NB. The original light energy is

now temporarily stored as
chemical energy in ATP and
reduced NADP (which has
electrons at a higher energy
level than they had in the water
from which they ultimately
come).
NB: light energy has been
converted into chemical energy

Light independent stage of

photosynthesis: summary

1. Ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP contains 5 C atoms and 2 phosphate

groups) acts as a carbon dioxide
acceptor molecule which leads to the
formation of 2 molecules of GP
(glycerate-3-phosphate)
2. GP is reduced to TP (triose phosphate) using
the energy from ATP and the H atoms
from reduced NADP (from the light
dependent stage)

3: Some TP is converted into glucose

which is stored as starch, as well as being
used in the synthesis of amino acids, lipids
etc.
4. Some TP is also used to regenerate
RuBP in the Calvin cycle so more CO2
can be taken in to produce more sugar etc;
this also uses ATP to transfer a phosphate
group.
All this occurs in the stroma of the
chloroplasts

Nucleic acids
RuBP
CO2

GP
TP

NB. Use of the products of the light

dependent stage.
Reduced NADP is used
to reduce GP to TP (provides the H
atoms)
ATP is used
to provide energy to reduce GP
to TP (energy released by hydrolysis)
to provide a phosphate group to
make RuBP (phosphorylation)