Term 1
Life And Living
Topic : Photosynthesis And Respiration
(1) Photosynthesis
(2) Respiration
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(1) Photosynthesis
● Energy Sustains Life
All life on Earth depends on Energy to sustain the 7 Life Processes. The form of Energy that
the Sun produces is called Radiant Energy. Plants use the light Energy from the Sun to
Photosynthesise.
● Radiant Energy To Chemical Potential Energy
Energy for Movement / Movement Energy = Kinetic Energy
Energy that is Stored = Potential Energy
Potential Energy (Stored Energy) is frequently converted into
Kinetic Energy (Energy of Motion) as an object moves.
All living organisms can use Energy in the form of Chemical Potential Energy for the life
processes. This is the Energy that is stored in the food that organisms eat. Plants are able to
capture the Radiant Energy from the Sun and transfer it to Chemical Potential Energy
(Stored Energy) for other organisms to use. They do this through the process of
Photosynthesis. All organisms release the stored Potential Energy from the food that they
eat to support their life processes. This process is called Respiration.
● Process Of Photosynthesis
Plants use Radiant Energy from the Sun in a series of Chemical Reactions to change
Carbon Dioxide from the air and water from the soil into Glucose. This process releases
Oxygen.
● The process of Photosynthesis can be represented in the form of an equation :
● What Happens To The Glucose That Plants Produce During Photosynthesis
Glucose Storage And Use
The Glucose that a plant produces during Photosynthesis is the food for the plant. The plant
can use the Glucose directly, and release the Energy during its own Respiration, or it can
store the Glucose or convert it into other chemical compounds.
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Glucose is soluble in water (can dissolve in water). The plant can transport the Glucose in
water to where it is needed in the plant. In order to store large amounts of Glucose, plants
need to convert it into compounds which are insoluble in water (cannot dissolve in water)
Therefore the plant converts Glucose into Starch, which is insoluble in water.
In addition to Starch, plants also convert Glucose into Cellulose. Cellulose is used to support
and strengthen plants. Animals do not have Cellulose for support. Glucose is also converted
into other chemical compounds that enable processes in the plant such as reproduction and
growth.
● Glucose tastes sweet but Starch does not taste sweet at all.
● Glucose will dissolve in water, while Starch will not dissolve in water.
● Iodine changes from brownish – orange to dark blue – black when it comes into contact with
Starch.
● Iodine Solution is a chemical that we use to test for Starch. Iodine Solution is a
brown – orange colour and changes to a blue – black colour if Starch is present.
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(2) Respiration
Energy is released from food through the process of Respiration. The series of chemical
reactions by which plants and animals release the Potential Energy trapped in them is called
Respiration. The structures responsible for Respiration are called Mitochondria, and are
found in both Plant Cells and Animal Cells. Respiration breaks down energy – rich food
substances such as the sugar Glucose, using Oxygen gas. The by – products of the process
are Carbon Dioxide and Water.
Glucose from the food that we eat is combined with Oxygen in a series of chemical reactions
to release the Energy. The Glucose is broken down and the Energy is released. Respiration
can be defined in all living organisms as the process by which energy is released from Glucose
in a series of chemical reactions.
● This can be represented by the following chemical word equation :
Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy
Requirements For Respiration
(1) Glucose (2) Oxygen
Products Produced By Respiration
(1) Carbon Dioxide (2) Water (3) Energy (ATP – Adenosine Triphosphate)
■ Energy powers life functions, Carbon Dioxide is breathed out and Water is used or
removed by the body.
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Testing For The Presence Of Carbon Dioxide In Exhaled Air
When a living organism breathes out, or exhales, Carbon Dioxide is returned to the
atmosphere. We can test if our breath that we exhale contains Carbon Dioxide, even though it
is a colourless gas. A common test is the “Lime Water Test”
To test if a gas contains Carbon Dioxide, simply bubble the gas through Lime Water.
Lime Water turns Milky in the presence of Carbon Dioxide.
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Activity 1
(1) In the following diagram, fill in the Requirements and Products of Photosynthesis.
(2) The process of Photosynthesis can be presented in the form of a word equation.
Write Photosynthesis as a word equation.
Carbon Dioxide + Water + (Sunlight and Chlorophyll) → Glucose + Oxygen
(3) In the following diagram, fill in the Requirements and Products of Respiration.
(4) The process of Respiration can be presented in the form of a word equation.
Write Respiration as a word equation.
Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy
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(5) Provide a list of steps to follow, when you test for the presence of Starch in green leaves :
Step 1 : Boil the leaves in water
Step 2 : Boil the leaves in alcohol
Step 3 : Rinse the leaves in water
Step 4 : Immerse the leaves in Iodine Solution
(6) Energy that is absorbed by plant cells to produce Glucose : Sunlight / Radiant Energy
(7) The liquid that is used to test if Carbon Dioxide is present when we exhale : Lime Water
(8) The solution that is used to test for the presence of Starch : Iodine Solution
(9) Simplified form of sugar : Glucose
(10) Stores excess Glucose in plants in this form : Starch
(11) Energy stored in plant systems are referred to as : Potential Energy
(12) Respiration produces : Energy, Carbon Dioxide and Water
(13) The sugar that is produced during the process of Photosynthesis : Glucose
(14) The green pigment in plant leaves : Chlorophyll
(15) Turns milky when it comes into contact with Carbon Dioxide : Lime Water
(16) Chloroplasts is an organelle found in which cells : Plant Cells
(17) The process that occurs in both Plants and Animals that require the products of
Photosynthesis (Glucose and Oxygen) : Respiration
(18) Which colours will you observe during a positive test for the presence of Starch in green
leaves : Blue – Black
(19) How would you “De – Starch” a potted plant ?
Leaves of a plant can be “De – Starched” by depriving them of sunlight for an extended
period of time, for example 48 hours. The plant is kept in a dark place for a long period
of time. In a dark place Photosynthesis does not occur and the stored Starch in the
plant is used up, leaving the plant “De – Starched”
(20) Differentiate between Photosynthesis and Respiration :
● Photosynthesis is when green plants use Sunlight, Water and Carbon Dioxide to
produce their own food (Glucose) to release Oxygen. This takes place in the
Chloroplasts with Chlorophyll that absorbs Sunlight.
● Respiration is the chemical process for releasing Energy from food (Glucose) using
Oxygen to release Energy for life functions, while producing Carbon Dioxide and Water
as by – products.
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