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Photosynthesis Study Guide

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy from the sun, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. It occurs in two stages: the light-dependent reactions in the thylakoid membranes where ATP and NADPH are produced using sunlight, and the Calvin cycle in the stroma where carbon dioxide is fixed into glucose using the ATP and NADPH produced in the first stage. Chlorophyll is the green pigment that absorbs sunlight to drive the light-dependent reactions, while the overall equation is: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2.

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93 views4 pages

Photosynthesis Study Guide

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy from the sun, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. It occurs in two stages: the light-dependent reactions in the thylakoid membranes where ATP and NADPH are produced using sunlight, and the Calvin cycle in the stroma where carbon dioxide is fixed into glucose using the ATP and NADPH produced in the first stage. Chlorophyll is the green pigment that absorbs sunlight to drive the light-dependent reactions, while the overall equation is: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2.

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PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Study guide Photosynthesis equation:


6CO2 + 6H2O -------------> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Where: CO2 = carbon dioxide, H2O = water Where: C6H12O6 = glucose; O2 = oxygen

Light dependent reactions Require water, light and carbon dioxide CO2 enters the plant through the
stomata
Plant absorbs photons from the sun using the pigment “chlorophyll” Inside the chloroplasts there are
things called thylakoids, which have the lumen inside the structure and the stroma outside the structure It all
starts in photosystem II Photons strike the chlorophyll and excite the electrons in the chlorophyll Missing an
electron, the chlorophyll will split a H20 molecule and steal its electron. It leaves the Hydrogen inside the
thylakoid, floating around, while the oxygen exits the membrane. 

One of the electrons breaks away from the chlorophyll and immediately hops onto a special thing called
an electron transport protein. The transport protein then transports the electron to the second protein complex,
the Cytochrome complex. The cytochrome complex uses some of the energy from the electron to pump more
hydrogen protons into the thylakoid. The hydrogen protons, now inside the thylakoid, are brought into the ATP
synthase. The ATP synthase packs the Hydrogen proton onto the ADP making ATP the original electron, now
completing its journey, is moved into PSI where it is reenergized by a photon. The Re-energized electron then
moves into the NADP+ Reductase where all of its energy is used to make NADPH out of 2 electrons and 1
hydrogen ion along with NADP+ The NADPH, along with the ATP’s, then moves into the second leg of
photosynthesis, the light independent reactions, called the Calvin cycle.
  Light independent reactions the first part occurs in the stroma and is called carbon
fixation. It is called this because this is where a CO2 molecule binds with a Molecule of Ribulose Bisphosphate.
This is done by an enzyme called rubisco.  Rubisco, which was originally designed to harvest inorganic carbon
from the atmosphere and then convert it to organic carbon, is actually not very good at its job. The RuBisCo
would accidentally bind the Ribulose bisphosphate with oxygen more than half of the time, creating a toxic by
product.  When the rubisco works correctly, it will slam a CO2 molecule into ribulose bisphosphate, which will
then become incredibly unstable. The only way to keep the new molecule stable is to split it in half, making 2
molecules of Phosphoglycerate. This whole process must be done to 3 molecules of RUBP.  In stage 2, the
Phosphoglycerate needs more energy so some ATP sums by and adds a phosphate group, and then some
NADPH adds some electrons. This process creates 2 molecules of G3P. G3P, the final product of
photosynthesis can then be easily converted to many different molecules, the most important of which is
glucose. However, the plant needs 5 of these G3P’s to replenish the electrons lost and to replenish the original 3
RUBPs. This last phase is called regeneration. 

Key Terms
Term Meaning
The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy to
Photosynthesis chemical energy in the form of sugars
Photoautotrop
h An organism that produces its own food using light energy (like plants)
ATP Adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy carrier in living things
Chloroplast The plant cell structure where photosynthesis occurs
Thylakoids Disc-like structures within a chloroplast that help absorb light
Grana Stacks of thylakoids in a chloroplast
A pigment found in the thylakoid that absorbs light energy and uses it to
Chlorophyll produce carbohydrates
Stroma Fluid-filled space surrounding the grana

Photosynthesis reaction
During photosynthesis, photoautotrophs use energy from the sun, along with
carbon dioxide and water, to form glucose and oxygen
The overall equation for photosynthesis is:
6CO2 + 6H2O -------------> C6H12O6 + 6O2

● Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are almost opposite processes. 

Looking at their equations, they differ only in the form of energy that is being
absorbed or released. However, they are not simply the reversal of each other, as
each one takes place in its own particular series of steps.
● Plants are green because chlorophyll reflects green light. Many people think
that chlorophyll is green because it wants to absorb and use green light. However,
this is not true. The color we see is actually the color of light that is being reflected.
Therefore, chlorophyll reflects green light, while absorbing red and blue light.

The stages of photosynthesis

There are two main stages of photosynthesis: the light-dependent reactions and


the Calvin cycle.
Requires
Stage Location Events sunlight?
Light-dependent Thylakoid Light energy is captured by
reactions membrane chloroplasts and stored as ATP Yes
ATP is used to create sugars that
Calvin cycle Stroma the plant will use to grow and live No

Common questions

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The Calvin cycle, occurring in the stroma, uses ATP and NADPH generated during the light-dependent reactions to fix carbon dioxide into organic molecules. This cycle transforms CO2 into glucose through a series of steps, beginning with carbon fixation by RuBisCo. The continuous supply of ATP and NADPH connects it to the prior light-dependent stage, making it crucial for converting light energy into chemical energy stored as sugars .

Chlorophyll plays a crucial role in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis by absorbing photons from sunlight, which excites electrons within the chlorophyll molecule. This excitation leads to the splitting of water molecules to replace the lost electrons in chlorophyll, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. The energized electrons are then transferred to an electron transport protein, ultimately contributing to the formation of ATP and NADPH, which are essential for the Calvin cycle .

Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are complementary because photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen using light energy, while cellular respiration breaks down glucose with oxygen to release energy as ATP, water, and carbon dioxide. This interdependence reflects a biological cycle where the products of one process serve as the reactants for the other, maintaining atmospheric oxygen and carbon dioxide balance .

Chloroplasts, with their internal thylakoid membranes, optimize light absorption by providing large surface areas for light-dependent reactions. The division into grana and stroma compartments separates different stages of photosynthesis, ensuring efficient ATP and NADPH production, and facilitates easy access to carbon dioxide for the Calvin cycle. This compartmentalization enhances the overall efficiency of capturing and converting solar energy into chemical energy .

RuBisCo can bind oxygen instead of carbon dioxide due to its low specificity for CO2 over O2, leading to photorespiration, a process that reduces photosynthetic efficiency by consuming ATP and releasing CO2 without producing sugar. This inefficiency results in less glucose production, affecting the plant's growth and energy storage capabilities .

While photosynthesis and cellular respiration are often described as reversals, this oversimplification ignores their distinct pathways and intermediates. Photosynthesis stores solar energy in glucose, while respiration releases energy from glucose breakdown. Each process involves unique enzymes, intermediates, and cellular compartments, with photosynthesis occurring in chloroplasts and respiration in mitochondria, reaffirming their complexity beyond mere reversals .

The electron transport chain in the thylakoid membrane uses the energy from electrons, excited by sunlight absorbed by chlorophyll, to pump hydrogen ions into the thylakoid lumen. This ion gradient drives ATP synthase, a protein that synthesizes ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. This process efficiently transforms solar energy into chemical energy stored in ATP, which is then used in the Calvin cycle for sugar synthesis .

Chlorophyll primarily absorbs red and blue wavelengths, reflecting green, which is why plants appear green. The absorption of red and blue light maximizes energy capture necessary for photosynthesis. If chlorophyll absorbed green light instead, it would enhance its absorption spectrum but disrupt its established adaptation for using blue and red light most effectively, potentially affecting photosynthetic efficiency .

Thylakoid membranes, containing chlorophyll and other pigments, are crucial for capturing light energy. They house the essential protein complexes and electron transport chain necessary for converting light energy into chemical energy as ATP and NADPH. Their structural arrangement supports efficient light absorption and energy transfer, facilitating the production of chemical energy to drive the Calvin cycle .

In photosystem II, photons excite electrons in chlorophyll, leading to the splitting of water molecules, release of oxygen, and transfer of electrons via an electron transport chain. These electrons contribute to proton pumping and ATP synthesis. The electron, after energy depletion, moves to photosystem I, where it is re-energized by more photons before contributing to the formation of NADPH. The ATP and NADPH produced are then used in the Calvin cycle for sugar synthesis, highlighting the interdependence of the two photosystems .

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