PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
Energy-storing compound Made up of an adenosine compound with 3 phosphate
groups attached When the bond that holds the last phosphate group is
broken the energy is released The new compound is now called adenosine
diphosphate (ADP)
Autotrophs
Organisms that make their own food Also known as producers because they
produce food for other organisms Ex: plants, bacteria
Heterotrophs
Organisms that cannot make their own food Also known as consumers because they
consume autotrophs and other heterotrophs Ex: humans, fungi
Pigments
Molecules that absorb certain wavelengths of light while reflecting others
Chlorophyll: a pigment in plants that absorbs red, blue, and violet light while reflecting green light
Chloroplast
Structures in plant cells that contain chlorophyll Photosynthesis occurs in these structures Made up of 3 parts:
Thylakoid: contains the photosystems Grana: stacks of thylakoids Stroma: gel-like material between the grana
Photosynthesis
The process by which autotrophs convert sunlight into energy
The photosynthetic reaction is: sunlight
6H2O + 6CO2 C6H12O6 + 6O2
Photosystems
Photosystem II: Uses the light energy from the sun to break water apart into hydrogen, oxygen and electrons; the electrons enter an electron transport chain
Photosystem I: picks up the electrons from the electron transport chain and uses them and the hydrogen to make ATP and NADPH (an energy carrier)
These reactions are called the light-dependent reactions because they require sunlight and they take place in the thylakoid
Calvin Cycle
A set of reactions that uses the energy in ATP and NADPH (made in the photosystems) to convert carbon dioxide into glucose
These reactions are called the light-independent reactions because they do not require sunlight and they take place in the stroma
Glucose
The glucose made during photosynthesis is used by the plant to provide energy for cellular functions
Excess glucose is linked together to form starch which can then be stored by the plant