Photosynthesis Basics
What is the overall chemical equation for photosynthesis?
What is 6CO2+6H2O+light energy→C6H12O6+6O2?
Where in the chloroplast do the light-dependent reactions take place?
What is the thylakoid membrane?
In which part of the chloroplast does the Calvin cycle occur?
What is the stroma?
What is the name of the stack of thylakoids inside the chloroplast?
What is a granum (plural: grana)?
What is a photon?
What is a discrete packet of light energy?
What type of organisms carry out photosynthesis to produce their own food?
What are autotrophs (photoautotrophs)?
What pigment primarily absorbs light energy in photosynthesis?
What is chlorophyll (specifically chlorophyll a)?
What enzyme catalyzes the fixation of carbon dioxide in the Calvin cycle?
What is RuBisCO (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase)?
What is the function of stomata in leaves?
They regulate gas exchange (CO₂ uptake and O₂ release) and water loss.
What does the absorption spectrum of a pigment refer to?
What is the specific pattern of wavelengths of light it absorbs?
Name two major products of photosynthesis that are essential for most living organisms.
What are glucose (or sugars) and oxygen?
Name the two photosystems involved in the light-dependent reactions.
What are Photosystem II and Photosystem I?
What is the three-carbon molecule produced during the Calvin cycle that can leave to form glucose?
What is glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P)?
Which part of the leaf contains the chloroplast-rich cells where most photosynthesis occurs?
What is the mesophyll?
Why does chlorophyll appear green?
Because it reflects green light and absorbs mostly blue and red wavelengths.
How does photosynthesis contribute to the energy flow in ecosystems?
It converts solar energy into chemical energy stored in carbohydrates, which then transfers through food chains.
What molecule replaces the electrons lost in Photosystem II?
What is water (H₂O), which is split to release electrons, protons, and oxygen?
How many turns of the Calvin cycle are required to produce one glucose molecule?
What is six turns?
Name the fluid-filled space surrounding the grana where the Calvin cycle occurs.
What is the stroma?
What is photoautotroph?
What is an organism that makes its own food using light energy and carbon from CO₂?
What process in photosynthesis releases oxygen as a byproduct?
What is the light-dependent reactions through the hydrolysis (splitting) of water?
What two high-energy molecules are produced during light-dependent reactions to fuel the Calvin cycle?
What are ATP and NADPH?
What are the three main stages of the Calvin cycle?
What are carbon fixation, reduction, and regeneration?
How do prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms perform photosynthesis without chloroplasts?
They use infoldings of their plasma membrane containing chlorophyll to carry out photosynthesis.
How are photosynthesis and cellular respiration related in terms of energy flow?
Photosynthesis stores energy in glucose by using CO₂ and water, releasing O₂; cellular respiration breaks down glucose using O₂, releasing CO₂ and energy.