PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Photosynthesis: A process, in which, plants and algae are able to capture energy from the sun and use it to produce ATP & energy storing carbohydrates

3 Stages of Photosynthesis Stage 1: Capturing Light Energy Chlorophyll: Pigment that absorbs (certain wavelengths) light, which helps in the gathering of energy for photosynthesis Chlorophyll is found in the chloroplast of the cell – most specifically in a disk-like structure called a thylakoid

Side note: ATP Remember from yesterday ? ATP can store energy and deliver it to cells Now continuing to stage 2

Stage 2: Using Light Energy to Make ATP and NADPH Light hits the chloroplast exciting the electrons causing them to pass through a chain of electron carriers. This energy is used to pump protons into the thylakoid … and continues until it reaches capacity (it’s ready to burst!) Diffusion sends the protons back out and upon exiting ATP is formed The excited electrons continue to pass through more electron carriers until it attaches to NADP+ forming …. NADPH Now we are powered up for stage 3!!

Stage 3: Building Carbohydrates Plants capture the CO2 in the atmosphere The carbon is then turned into organic molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins) This takes place through the Calvin Cycle (which is run from the energy produced in stage 2) Unbalanced  Balanced 

Thought question: You may have heard that if you want to help a plant grow you should talk to it. Why is that?