Aim: What is photosynthesis? I. Photosynthesis – the process in which green plants take in CO 2 and H 2 O in the presence of sunlight and create glucose and oxygen. A. Chemical Equation 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 Sunlight Chlorophyll What is the difference between autoptrophs and heterotrophs?

B. Chlorophyll – green pigment found in chloroplast that converts sunlight energy into ATP to help fuel photosynthesis. C. Chloroplast – organelles in leaf cell that contain chlorophyll. Site of photosynthesis. Why are plants green?

Chloroplast Leaf Cross Section

II. Factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis Temperature A. Temperature – as temperature increases, so does the rate of photosynthesis. Once the temperature exceeds 35 o C, the rate decreases due to enzymes changing shape. B. L LL Light Intensity – As you increase light intensity, the rate of photosynthesis increases until a maximum rate is reached.

CO 2 Concentration C. CO 2 Concentration – Increasing the amount of CO 2 increase the rate of photosynthesis. Amount of Water D. Amount of Water – a shortage of water slows the process of photosynthesis. Minerals E. Minerals – magnesium, nitrogen, zinc, copper, iron, and manganese are needed for the reactions involved in photosynthesis. A shortage of any one of these will slow down the process.