Biology Chapter 8: Photosynthesis Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the ultimate source of energy for plants?

They use light energy from the sun to produce food.

What is ATP and what is its role in the cell?

It stands for adenosine triphosphate and it is one of the principal chemical compounds that cells use to store and release energy for work to be done in the cell.

Describe one cellular activity that uses the energy released by ATP.

One way cells use the energy provided by ATP is to carry out active transport.

How do autotrophs obtain energy? How do heterotrophs obtain energy?

Autotrophs obtain energy by light from the sun to make their own food. Heterotrophs obtain energy from foods they consume. Signup and view all the answers

With respect to energy, how are ATP and glucose similar? How are they different?

Both store energy for a cell. A single molecule of glucose stores more than 90 times the chemical energy of an ATP molecule. Signup and view all the answers

What did van Helmont, Priestley, and Ingenhousz discover about plants?

Van Helmont discovered that water was involved in increasing the mass of a plant. Priestley discovered that a plant produces the substance in air required for burning. Ingenhousz discovered that light is necessary for plants to produce oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the process of photosynthesis, including the reactants and products.

Photosynthesis uses the energy of sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy sugars. Signup and view all the answers

Why are light and chlorophyll needed for photosynthesis?

Light provides the energy needed to produce high-energy sugars. Chlorophyll absorbs light, and the energy of that absorbed light makes photosynthesis work. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the relationship between chlorophyll and the color of plants.

Plants are green because green light is reflected by the chlorophyll in leaves. Signup and view all the answers

How well would a plant grow under pure yellow light? Explain your answer.

The plant would not grow well because chlorophyll does not absorb much light in the yellow region of visible light. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the light-dependent reactions.

The light-dependent reactions produce oxygen gas and convert ADP and NADP into the energy carriers ATP and NADPH. Signup and view all the answers

What reactions make up the Calvin cycle?

The Calvin Cycle uses ATP and NADPH from the light-dependent reactions to produce high-energy sugars. Signup and view all the answers

How is light energy converted into chemical energy during photosynthesis?

Light energy is converted into chemical energy by the pigments in the chloroplast. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of NADPH?

The main function of NADPH is to carry high-energy electrons produced by light absorption in chlorophyll to chemical reactions elsewhere in the cell. Signup and view all the answers

Why are light-dependent reactions important to the Calvin cycle?

The light-dependent reactions provide the Calvin cycle with ATP and NADPH. The Calvin cycle uses the energy in ATP and NADPH to produce high-energy sugars. Signup and view all the answers

What is the chemical formula for photosynthesis?

6CO2 + 6H2O -------> C6H12O6 + 6O2 Signup and view all the answers

How are Anthophytes characterized?

The plant kingdom is organized into four main groups: Bryophyte, Pterophyte, Coniferophyte, and Anthophyte. Anthophytes are separated into two classes: Monocots and Dicots. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Energy Sources for Plants

Plants derive energy from sunlight to produce food through photosynthesis.
Autotrophs create their own food using solar energy; heterotrophs obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

Role of ATP

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the main energy currency of the cell, allowing storage and release of energy for cellular activities.
Energy released from ATP is utilized in processes like active transport.

Glucose vs. ATP

Both ATP and glucose serve as energy storage compounds within cells.
Glucose stores over 90 times more energy than a single ATP molecule.

Contributions of Early Botanists

Van Helmont linked plant growth to water, discovering its role in mass increase.
Priestley identified that plants release a vital substance for combustion.
Ingenhousz revealed that light is essential for plants to produce oxygen.

Photosynthesis Process

Photosynthesis transforms carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, using sunlight as energy.
Primary reactants: carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O); primary products: glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2).

Importance of Light and Chlorophyll

Light energy is necessary to synthesize high-energy sugars during photosynthesis.
Chlorophyll absorbs light and drives the photosynthetic process; it reflects green light, making plants appear green.

Light and Plant Growth

Plants exposed solely to yellow light would struggle to grow due to low absorption of that wavelength by chlorophyll.

Light-Dependent Reactions

These reactions produce oxygen and convert ADP and NADP+ into energy carriers ATP and NADPH.

Calvin Cycle

Utilizes ATP and NADPH produced in light-dependent reactions to synthesize high-energy sugars.

Conversion of Light to Chemical Energy

Pigments in chloroplasts facilitate the conversion of light energy into chemical energy during photosynthesis.

Function of NADPH

NADPH transports high-energy electrons generated from light absorption to various chemical reactions requiring energy.

Interdependence of Reactions

Light-dependent reactions supply ATP and NADPH to the Calvin cycle, which employs these energy carriers to produce sugars.

Photosynthesis Chemical Formula

Photosynthesis can be summarized by the equation:
- 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 + light energy.

Anthophyte Characteristics

Anthophytes, part of the plant kingdom, are classified into monocots and dicots, based on specific features like cotyledons, leaf vein patterns, and flower structure.
Monocots have one cotyledon, fibrous roots, scattered vascular bundles, and parallel-veined leaves.
Dicots possess two cotyledons, net-veined leaves, and vascular bundles organized in a ring.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of photosynthesis with these flashcards. Learn about the energy sources utilized by plants and the role of ATP in cellular processes. This quiz is designed to enhance your understanding of biological energy transformations.