Photosynthesis and Leaf Structure

The process by which plants make glucose from carbon dioxide and water using sunlight energy, releasing oxygen as a byproduct.

A green pigment found in plants that absorbs light energy, primarily red and blue wavelengths, for photosynthesis.

Simple sugars, such as glucose, produced during photosynthesis by plants. They are used for plant growth, respiration, and stored as starch.

The process of breaking down carbohydrates like glucose to release energy for plant activities, like growth.

Glucose is stored in plants as starch, a complex carbohydrate, for future energy needs.

Essential elements absorbed by plants from the soil through their roots, needed for growth and development.

The chemical equation representing photosynthesis, showing the reactants (CO2 and water) and products (glucose and oxygen).

Factors that limit the rate of photosynthesis, such as light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and temperature.

A chemical test that uses iodine solution to detect the presence of starch in plant leaves. A blue-black color indicates the presence of starch.

Boiling water is used in the iodine test for starch to kill plant cells and break down their cell membranes, making the leaf more permeable to the iodine solution.

Ethanol is used in the iodine test for starch to remove chlorophyll from the leaf. This makes it easier to see the color change from iodine that indicates the presence of starch.

Variegated leaves, with both green and white areas, are useful for testing if chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis. The green parts turn blue-black with iodine, while the white parts remain orange-brown.

The areas of a leaf that do not contain chlorophyll will not turn blue-black when tested with iodine, indicating no starch is stored because no photosynthesis occurred.

Plants need to make substances like proteins and nucleic acids, which contain elements beyond carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They obtain these elements as mineral ions from the soil.

Plants obtain these elements in the form of mineral ions, which are actively absorbed by root hair cells from the soil.

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic substance found in the Earth's crust.

A lack of a specific mineral can cause a plant to exhibit certain symptoms like stunted growth, yellowing leaves, or discoloration.

Plants use starch as a storage form of glucose, making it a reliable indicator of photosynthesis.

Testing for the presence of starch can be done using iodine solution, which turns a dark blue-black color in the presence of starch.

Chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis as it absorbs light energy, primarily red and blue wavelengths, for the process.

Light, carbon dioxide, and chlorophyll are crucial factors for photosynthesis. Without any of these, the process cannot occur.

A controlled experiment to observe how different concentrations of carbon dioxide affect the rate of photosynthesis.

When researching a factor's effect on photosynthesis, keep all other variables constant to ensure a fair test.

Measuring the volume of oxygen produced, often using an inverted measuring cylinder filled with water, or a syringe attached to a funnel.

A glass tank placed between the lamp and the beaker, preventing excess heat from reaching the beaker.

Different amounts of sodium hydrogen carbonate dissolved in water are used to vary the carbon dioxide concentration.

The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose.

The amount of carbon dioxide, light intensity, and temperature can affect how quickly photosynthesis occurs.

The highest point on a graph of a limiting factor against rate of photosynthesis shows where the factor is no longer limiting the rate.

The upper layer of a leaf, containing tightly packed cells that absorb light.

The lower layer of a leaf, containing loosely packed cells with air spaces that facilitate gas exchange.

Carbon dioxide enters the leaf through tiny openings on its underside called stomata.

Carbon dioxide diffuses through the air spaces in the leaf, then into the mesophyll cells, and finally into the chloroplasts.

The chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis, where light energy is captured and used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose.

The outer protective layer of a leaf, covering both the upper and lower surfaces.

Specialized cells on the lower epidermis of a leaf that control the opening and closing of stomata.

Small pores on the lower epidermis of a leaf that allow for gas exchange (CO2 and O2) and water vapor.

Bundles of vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) within the leaf, transporting water and sugars.

The outermost layer of cells on the upper and lower surfaces of a leaf, protecting the inner tissues.

Green organelles within plant cells, containing chlorophyll, the pigment that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.