Chloroplasts
What kind of reaction occur in chloroplasts?
What are light reactions?
Do light reactions produce sugar? If not, why?
No. The Calvin cycle is responsible for producing sugars.
What is the purpose of the Calvin Cycle?
To create sugar for cellular respiration or other organic compounds.
What type of energy is sunlight?
What is electromagnetic energy or radiation?
What color is poorly absorbed by chloroplasts?
What is green?
What causes the pigmentation in chloroplasts? How?
What is chlorophyll? Chlorophyll reflects green light which plays a role in converting solar energy to chemical energy.
What happens during light reactions?
Chlorophyll in the thylakoid membranes absorbs solar energy which is then converted into ATP and NADPH.
Why is the Calvin Cycle considered to be independent?
It can be conducted at any time and does not require light.
What is the definition of a wavelength?
What is the distance between the crests of two adjacent waves?
What is the full range of radiation, from gamma rays to radio signals, called?
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
Why is the stacking of thylakoids helpful? (Think of structure and function)
The thylakoids stacked in grana increase surface area. This aids in maximizing the light reactions.
___________ molecules absorb light energy of certain wavelengths and reflect other wavelengths.
pigment
Why is the Calvin Cycle considered to be dependent?
It relies on the products of light reactions to occur.
Blue-violet and _______ wavelengths best drive photosynthesis.
Orange-red
What is the role of carotenoids?
They dissipate excess light energy that would otherwise damage chlorophyll.
What are the purposes of chlorophyll a and b?
Chlorophyll a participates directly in light reactions. Chlorophyll b conveys the absorbed energy into chlorophyll a, which can be used in light reactions.
The ______ the wavelength of light, the _______ energy of a photon.
shorter, greater.
What does the light reaction provide to help complete the Calvin Cycle? Why are they helpful?
What are ATP and high energy electrons? ATP provides energy for the reaction. Electrons excite the carbon and allow the synthesis of sugar.
A photon of violet light has nearly ________ as much energy as a photon of red light.
twice
Describe carbon fixation.
The initial incorporation of carbon from CO2 into organic compounds.
Describe the structure of a chloroplast.
Chloroplasts are filled with stroma, a thick fluid. They also contain thylakoids which complete light reactions. Thylakoids are in stacks called grana.
Name three main structures involved in light reactions.
What is the thylakoid membrane, lumen, and stroma?
How can the Calvin Cycle be considered as a manufacturer?
The Calvin Cycle produces the intended final product for photosynthesis: fuel. It takes the inputs (ATP, CO2, and electrons) to create sugar for the organism's use.
Which German biologist discovered that certain bacteria living in water tend to accumulate in areas with higher oxygen concentrations.
Theodore Englemann
Why does the name photosynthesis describe what the process accomplishes?
"Photo" refers to light, which is required for the process, and "synthesis" refers to the fact that it makes sugars. Both together means the synthesis of sugar using light.