Photosynthesis Quiz

The process used by plants, protists, and some bacteria to convert sunlight into chemical energy stored in sugars.

A sugar produced during photosynthesis, used by plants for both energy and building materials.

The process where plants use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.

The process that uses the energy produced in the light-dependent reaction to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

Light has both wave-like properties (wavelength and frequency) and particle-like properties (photons).

The distance between the crests of two waves.

Visible light is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that plants use for photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth because it produces oxygen, which is vital for respiration in all living organisms.

The waxy layer on the upper epidermis of a leaf. It prevents water loss by evaporation.

The outermost layer of cells on a leaf, protecting it and allowing sunlight to pass through.

The primary site of photosynthesis in a leaf, where sunlight is captured and gas exchange occurs. It consists of tightly packed Palisade mesophyll and loosely packed Spongy mesophyll cells.

The small openings in the lower epidermis of a leaf that allow for gas exchange (CO₂ in and O₂ out), but also contribute to water loss through transpiration.

Specialized cells that surround each stomata and control its opening and closing. They regulate gas exchange and water balance.

The vascular tissue that transports water and dissolved minerals from the roots up to the leaves.

The vascular tissue that transports sugars (produced during photosynthesis) from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

The first stage of photosynthesis where light energy is captured by chlorophyll and used to split water molecules. This process produces ATP (energy currency) and NADPH (electron carrier).

The part of the chloroplast where the light reactions of photosynthesis occur.

The second stage of photosynthesis where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose using energy from ATP and NADPH produced by the light reactions.

The fluid-filled space within the chloroplast where the Calvin cycle occurs.

A sugar molecule produced during photosynthesis and used by plants for energy and building materials.

The process by which plants release excess water vapor through their leaves, primarily through the stomata.

The process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy stored in sugars.

The amount of energy light carries depends on its wavelength. Shorter wavelengths have more energy.

Photosynthesis takes place in specialized organelles called chloroplasts, found in plant cells.

The process of photosynthesis is driven by light energy. Plants use this energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Chloroplasts are surrounded by a double membrane, which protects the organelle and is a result of the endosymbiotic theory.

The stroma is the fluid-filled space inside the chloroplast where the Calvin cycle, the dark reaction of photosynthesis, takes place.

Thylakoids are disc-shaped structures inside chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll. This is where the light reactions of photosynthesis occur.

Grana are stacks of thylakoids, resembling stacks of pancakes. They are important for the light reactions of photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll absorbs most wavelengths of light except for green, which it reflects, making plants appear green.

Chlorophyll a is the main pigment in chloroplasts, responsible for absorbing light energy and driving photosynthesis.

Carotenoids are accessory pigments that absorb blue and green light, reflecting yellow, orange, and red colors. They become more visible in autumn when chlorophyll a breaks down.

Anthocyanins are pigment molecules that tend to be purple and are found in petals or the skin of onions.

Phytoplankton, microscopic algae in the ocean, perform photosynthesis and produce a significant portion of the Earth's oxygen.

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic bacteria that perform photosynthesis without chloroplasts. They use membranes within their cells for this process.

Plants are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that create their own food through photosynthesis, are autotrophic, and have cell walls made of cellulose, providing structural strength. They reproduce sexually.

Plants evolved from green algae, similar in being photosynthetic and autotrophic, but plants developed adaptations for life on land like preventing desiccation, vascular systems & seeds.

A type of chemical reaction that releases energy, often represented as the breakdown of ATP to ADP.

The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH.

A light-harvesting complex within chloroplasts that absorbs light energy, primarily using chlorophyll.

A photosystem involved in generating ATP, the energy currency of cells.

A photosystem involved in generating NADPH, an electron carrier molecule used in the Calvin cycle.

A series of protein complexes within the thylakoid membrane that transfer electrons, releasing energy for ATP production.

The process where light energy splits water molecules into electrons, protons, and oxygen.

The diffusion of protons across a membrane (thylakoid membrane) to generate ATP.

An enzyme responsible for synthesizing ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate, harnessing the proton gradient.

The process of adding a phosphate group to a molecule, often associated with storing energy.

The process of removing a phosphate group from a molecule, often releasing energy.

A molecule that carries electrons and energy, often involved in reducing other molecules.

The loss of electrons in a chemical reaction.

The gain of electrons in a chemical reaction.

The enzyme in the Calvin Cycle that fixes CO₂ by attaching it to RuBP.

A 5-carbon molecule that combines with CO₂ in the first step of the Calvin Cycle.

A 3-carbon molecule formed after CO₂ is fixed to RuBP.

A 3-carbon sugar produced in the Calvin Cycle that can be used to make glucose.

The process where CO₂ is converted to an organic molecule.

The process where the majority of G3P is used to regenerate RuBP, ensuring the Calvin Cycle continues.

The process where plants break down glucose to release energy using mitochondria, even though they perform photosynthesis.

A group of plants that have a vascular system to transport water and nutrients.

A group of plants that produce seeds to reproduce.

A group of plants that have seeds enclosed within a fruit.

The process where a seed develops into a seedling.

The process of transferring pollen from the anther to the stigma.

These plants, like Venus flytraps, capture insects to obtain nitrogen, a crucial nutrient often lacking in their environments.

These plants are adapted to survive in environments with alternating wet and dry seasons, such as grasslands.

These plants are masters of water conservation, thriving in deserts with extreme temperature fluctuations.

Energy derived from organic matter, including plants, algae, and waste materials.

This enzyme is responsible for attaching carbon dioxide to RuBP, initiating the first step of the Calvin Cycle.

It's a 5-carbon molecule that combines with CO₂ in the first step of the Calvin Cycle.

This 3-carbon molecule is a key intermediate in the Calvin Cycle, eventually leading to the formation of glucose.

The process of concentrating CO₂ in bundle sheath cells, minimizing wasteful photorespiration in hot environments.

The enzyme responsible for the initial carbon fixation in C4 plants, preferring CO₂ over O₂.

This pathway is unique to desert plants, fixing CO₂ at night and storing it as an acid.

This is the evolutionary history of plant groups, revealing their shared ancestry and unique adaptations.

These plants lack vascular tissues, requiring moist environments for reproduction.

The evolution of vascular tissue allowed plants to grow taller and transport crucial resources efficiently.

These plants include ferns, which reproduce through spores and require water for fertilization.