Lesson 2 - The Process

Bell Ringer How do plants obtain their energy?

What is a pigment? Different pigments absorb different wavelengths of light They “capture” sunlight for the plant to use in photosynthesis What is the most important pigment in photosynthesis?

Light Reactions - Summary Take place in the grana Light Energy => Chemical Energy (in the form of ATP) Important Steps: Light energy absorbed by pigment H2O splits O2 released, Hs carried to Calvin Cycle by NADP+ ATP formed

ATP – Adenosine Triphosphate ATP is an “energy carrier” Very important source of energy in many biochemical processes You will see ATP again so remember it!

Calvin Cycle - Summary Takes place in the stroma Chemical Energy (in the form of ATP) => Fuel for the plant (in the form of glucose) Important Steps: Carbon fixation CO2 combined with Hs from Light Reactions to create glucose (sugar) ATP and NADPH used as energy for the carbon fixation reaction

Glucose – C6H12O6 Glucose is an important source of fuel for many organisms including us! Excess glucose is turned into starch and stored for the plant’s future use Similar to how we store fat

Photosynthesis Equation Carbon Dioxide + Water => Sugar + Oxygen 6CO2 + 6H2O => C6H12O6 + 6O2