Photosynthesis

Objectives: Standard 1f Students will learn that chloroplast organelles inside plant cells capture sunlight energy. Students will learn that energy from sunlight is used to power the building of sugar from carbon dioxide and water.

Photosynthesis “Photo”: Light “Synthesis”: to build  to build organic compounds (sugar) using light energy to power the reaction

Photosynthesis “Photo”: Light “Synthesis”: to build  to build organic compounds (sugar) using light energy to power the reaction

In plants the major site of photosynthesis is the leaf In Plants and Algae (a type of protist) cells photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast organelles

General Equation Reactants  Products

2 stages of Photosynthesis: *Chemical reactions in both stages are assisted by ENZYMES

1) Light Reaction occurs in the Thylakoid of the chloroplast.

–Light energy ejects excited electrons from chloropyll Electrons replaced by splitting water 2H2O  4e- +4H+ +O2 –2 electron transport chains remove energy from excited electrons 1st one pumps H+ into thylakoid  concentration gradient used to make ATP 2nd one collects the excited electron + H + + NADP+  NADPH (high energy molecules)

1) Light Reaction occurs in the Thylakoid of the chloroplast.

2) Calvin cycle (A.K.A dark reaction or light independent reaction) occurs in the stroma of the chloroplast. Each CO2 adds to a 5Carbon compound  6 Carbon Compound Takes 2 rounds of the Calvin cycle to make a glucose molecule – C6H12O6

2) Calvin cycle (A.K.A dark reaction or light independent reaction) occurs in the stroma of the chloroplast. Each CO2 adds to a 5Carbon compound  6 Carbon Compound Takes 2 rounds of the Calvin cycle to make a glucose molecule – C6H12O6

Factors that affect the rate of Photosynthesis: