1. Plants making their own food
Ch 10 Photosynthesis
Plants making their own food

2. Introduction
Photosynthesis is the production of sugars (glucose) from Carbon Dioxide and Water using light energy trapped by chlorophyll.
Energy for this reaction comes from the sun.
The sun’s energy is converted to chemical energy using molecules of ATP.

3. Role of Photosynthesis
Plants use it to make food
Animals get their food from plants
It produces oxygen which is needed to release energy in respiration
It is responsible for forming fossil fuels
It removes carbon dioxide from the air

4. Photosynthesis requires:
carbon dioxide,
water,
light energy,
chlorophyll.

5. Photosynthesis produces
glucose
waste oxygen

6. How plants make their food
Energy from sunlight, with chlorophyll as a catalyst, is used to combine CO2 and H2O to form glucose and release O2
oxygen
Carbon dioxide
chlorophyll
glucose
water

7. Balanced Equation for Photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O + light C6H 12O6 + 6O2
carbon dioxide sunlight glucose
water chlorophyll oxygen

9. Photosynthesis converts
light energy
chemical energy

10. Learning Check What is photosynthesis?
Why is it important to all life?
What do plants require for photosynthesis?
What do plants produce in photosynthesis?
What kind of energy is light energy changed into in photosynthesis?

11. Stages in Photosynthesis
Light is absorbed
Light energises electrons
Water is split
Products are produced (4 protons, 4 electrons and oxygen)
Glucose is formed

12. Light is Absorbed
The light that reaches a plant is trapped by chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is found in the chloroplasts of plant cells
Therefore photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts – mainly
in the upper half of
the leaf in the
palisade layer.

13. Light Energises Electrons
Light energy is absorbed by electrons in the chlorophyll
The trapped light energy changes them into high energy electrons
An energised electron
escapes the chlorophyll
molecule.

14. Water is Split
Some of the trapped light energy is used to split water into oxygen gas (O2) protons (H+) and electrons (e-)
Summarised as
2H2O H+ and 4e- and O2

15. What happens to these Products?
Some electrons are passed back to the chlorophyll
The protons are stored in a proton pool for later use
The oxygen may pass out of the leaf into the atmosphere or
else may be used
for plant respiration

16. Glucose is formed
The trapped light provides the energy along with protons and carbon dioxide to form glucose (C6H 12O6 )

18. Learning Check What are the main stages in photosynthesis?
What is water split into?
What happens to each of there products?
What is the trapped light energy used for?

19. Promoting Crop Growth in Greenhouses
Artificial Lighting
Increase light intensity and duration to increase the rate of photosynthesis
Increase Carbon Dioxide Concentration:
Increase the rate of photosynthesis
= more food produced.

21. Sources of light for plants
Sunlight is the natural source of light for plants but they can use artificial light for photosynthesis
Artificial light is often used in greenhouses to stimulate growth
Increasing light can increase growth up to a certain saturation point where no more light can be absorbed and photosynthesis will level off

22. Sources of carbon dioxide for plants
Plants have 2 sources of carbon dioxide one is external the other is internal
Plants get most of their carbon dioxide from the atmosphere this is external
Plants get carbon dioxide internally from their own cellular respiration
Sometimes artificial sources of carbon dioxide are used to stimulate growth e.g. burning gas in a green house

23. Sources of water for plants
Water is absorbed from the soil by the roots of plants
This water passes up the stem and is used for photosynthesis

24. Learning Check
1. Where do plants get (a) Light, (b) carbon dioxide and (c) water from? 2. How can humans increase photosynthesis? 3. Why would humans want to do this?

25. Syllabus Can you? Define the term: photosynthesis.
Express photosynthesis as a balanced reaction.
State the nature of photosynthesis from the syllabus – what are the main events?
State the role & location of chlorophyll.
Explain the nature of electron carriage.
Identify the sources of light , CO2 & water for photosynthesis.
Explain how human intervention can play a role in photosynthesis.

26. Photosynthesis Extended Study

27. 2 stages of Photosynthesis
Light Stage
Dark Stage

28. Chloroplasts
Chlorophyll is found in the internal green membranes of the chloroplast.
Chloroplast Structure:
Double outer membrane – inner membrane is smooth, not folded
Green internal membranes

29. Two stages in Photosynthesis:
Light Stage in the green internal membranes / granum
Dark Stage in the liquid portion/ stroma of the chloroplast

30. Chloroplast Structure

31. http://www. sumanasinc

34. Light stage Light Stage Phosphorylation Making ATP Photolysis
Splitting water

35. The Light Phase Cyclic Electron Transport – Pathway 1.
Non-cyclic Electron Transport – Pathway 2
or Non cyclic photophosphorylation.

36. Cyclic Electron Transport – Pathway 1

37. Cyclic Electron Transport
Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll in the green internal membranes of the chloroplast.
An ‘excitable’ electron in chlorophyll absorbs light energy.
The energised electron escapes the chlorophyll molecule.

38. An electron acceptor molecule picks up this energised electron.
The electron is passed along an ‘electron carrier system’ where its ‘excess’ energy is released.

39. The excess energy is used to produce ATP by the phosphorylation of ADP.
ADP + P = ATP
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the most abundant short-term energy store and immediate source of energy for cell work.
Living cells use up ATP at a very fast rate - a human cell needs about 2 million a second. In order to maintain constant energy, a supply of ATP must be replaced as it is used.

41. ADP - adenosine diphosphate is a low-energy molecule
ATP - adenosine triphosphate is an energy-rich molecule.

42. ATP and ADP

43. The electron then returns to chlorophyll after all the excess energy has been given off.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the most abundant short-term energy store and immediate source of energy for cell work.

45. ATP – The Unit of Energy

47. Non-cyclic Electron Transport – Pathway 2 or Non cyclic photophosphorylation.

48. Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll electrons in the green internal membranes of the chloroplast.
An electron acceptor picks up these energised electrons and then passes them along a series of electron acceptors
In this case the electrons do not return to the original chlorophyll
They lose energy as they pass from electron acceptor to electron acceptor and this energy is used to make more ATP

49. The electron acceptor passes this electron to NADP+ becoming NADP (neutral) - Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, An important coenzyme, functioning as a hydrogen carrier in a wide range of redox reactions; the H is carried on the nicotinamide residue. The oxidized form of the coenzyme is written NADP+, the reduced form as NADPH.
dinucleotide, since it consists of two nucleotides joined through their phosphate groups, with one nucleotide containing an adenine base and the other containing nicotinamide.

50. NADP then receives another electron becoming NADP-.
NADP + e- = NADP-
The chlorophyll molecule is now short of electrons and gains more from the splitting of water
The splitting of water using light energy is called Photolysis
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, An important coenzyme, functioning as a hydrogen carrier in a wide range of redox reactions; the H is carried on the nicotinamide residue. The oxidized form of the coenzyme is written NADP+, the reduced form as NADPH. ...

51. NADP+ - is a low-energy molecule
NADPH - is a high-energy molecule
Both molecules are involved in photosynthesis
NADP+ and NADPH are interconvertible i.e.
NADP+ + energy (high-energy electrons) + H+ → NADPH
NADPH → NADP+ + energy (high-energy electrons) + H+

52. Photolysis The splitting of water
Hydrogen ions H+
Electrons E-
Oxygen 02
Used to convert NADP To
NADPH
By product
Excreted through leaf
Go back to chlorophyll

53. Water breaks up into oxygen, protons (hydrogen ions) and electrons.
The oxygen passes out of the chloroplast by diffusion.
The protons pass into the general pool of protons in the chloroplast.
The electrons pass to chlorophyll as replacement for those lost to NADP-.
The electrons from water pass through an electron transport chain resulting in ATP formation.

54. ATP is the source of energy used for most cell reactions.
ADP and ATP are interconvertible, i.e.
ADP + energy + P → ATP + water
ATP + water → ADP+ energy + P
Phosphorylation
is the addition of phosphate to a molecule.

55. The protons that were stored in the proton pool are attracted to NADP- and combine with it to form NADPH

56. Because the electrons start at a chlorophyll and finish at NADPH and form ATP on their way this pathway is known as Non cyclic photophosphorylation

58. Phosphorylation Chlorophyll traps sunlight1:
Chlorophyll traps sunlight 2:
Electrons are energised 3:
Electrons lose energy to ADP
Which joins with P to form ATP 4:
Other electrons join with NADP
To form NADP- 5:
Hydrogen ions join with NADP-
To form NADPH

59. Learning Check
Where do the electrons move to from the chlorophyll in pathway 2?
What happens to the electrons as they are moved around?
What is the final destination of the electrons and what does this form?
What is attracted to NADP-?
What was the original source of these substances?
What is photolysis?

60. End Products of the Light Stage (HL)
There are 3 end products of the light stage
ATP this will provide energy for the dark stage
NADPH this will provide protons + energised electrons for the dark stage
Oxygen is made when water is split

61. Learning Check What are the 3 end products of the light stage?
Where do each of these products come from?
What will happen to each of these products?

62. Photosynthesis – The Light Stage
To Dark Stage
NADPH H+
NADP-
Non - Cyclic Electron Transport
Cyclic Electron Transport
NADP+ H+ H+ H+ H+
Electron Acceptor
Electron Acceptor
Electron’s excess energy released by Electron Transport Chain H+
Proton Pool
Electron Emitted
Electron Emitted
Chlorophyll Molecule H+ O2
ADP + P
Light
Water
Electron
ATP
Start Here
H2O splits
To Dark Stage

64. The Dark Stage Also called the Light Independent Phase
Does not require light.
Occurs in light and also in darkness as long as the products of the light phase are still available.
The dark stage runs if ATP, NADPH and carbon dioxide are present.
Takes place in the liquid portion/ stroma of the chloroplast.
Carbohydrate is the crucial product of the dark stage.

65. Carbon dioxide from the air enters the chloroplast where they combine with electrons + protons to form glucose
NADPH delivers electrons and a proton to CO2 (NADPH  NADP+ + 2e- + H+)
The energy needed for this reaction is supplied by the break up of ATP into ADP + P
NADP+, ADP and P pass back to the light stage.

66. Remember the addition of electrons to anything is known as reduction
Carbon Dioxide is reduced to glucose

67. Dark Stage CO2 is reduced Oxygen atom is removed Hydrogen ions
are added
Electrons are
added
Glucose is formed
C6H1206

68. Learning Check
Why can the dark stage more accurately be called the light independent stage?
What part of the chloroplast does the dark stage take place in?
Why is the dark stage affected by temperature?
What gas is reduced to glucose?
Where does the energy for this come from?
What else is needed to reduce the gas? Where do these items come from?

70. NADP+ NADP+: Nicotinamide adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate
Function: to transfer energy for the formation of complex organic compounds.
The energy is in the form of energy-rich electrons that came from light activated chlorophyll.
NADP+ becomes NADPH in the light stage.
NADPH transfers electrons and protons to carbon dioxide reducing it to carbohydrate.
NADP+ is regenerated when NADPH passes on the electrons and proton.

71. Photosynthesis – The Dark Stage
CO2
ATP
NADPH
Protons
Energy for reaction H+
ADP + P
NADP-
Electrons
NADP+
C6H12O6

72. Affect on Light Intensity on Rate of Photosynthesis
Place a funnel over Elodea, pondweed, in a beaker of pond water at 25°C.
The funnel is raised off the bottom on pieces of blue-tack. This allows continuous free diffusion of CO2 to Elodea.
Invert a test tube full of water over the stem of the funnel to collect any gas from the Elodea.
Place the beaker on a hot plate at 25°C.
Maintain and monitor the temperature of the water with a thermometer.

74. Affect on Light Intensity on Rate of Photosynthesis
Excess sodium bicarbonate is placed in the water to give a constant saturated solution of CO2.
Place the lamp (the only light source) at a predetermined distance from the plant.
Use a light meter to measure the light intensity at this distance. Record the light intensity.
Allow the plant five minutes to adjust to the new conditions.
Count the number of oxygen bubbles given off by the plant in a five-minute period.

75. Affect on Light Intensity on Rate of Photosynthesis
Repeat the count twice more and calculate the average of the three readings.
This is the rate of photosynthesis at that particular light intensity.
The gas should be checked to prove that it is indeed oxygen — it relights a glowing splint.
Repeat at different light intensities by moving the lamp to different distances.
Graph the results placing light intensity on the x-axis.

77. Light Released Chlorophyll Electron Deficient Chlorophyll High Energy
Electrons
Water Protons + electrons + oxygen
ADP
Proton Pool
ATP
NADPH
NADP+

78. Outline of Photosynthesis
Light Stage
Light energy used to make ATP.
Light energy used to produce NADPH from NADP-.
Oxygen gas as a by-product.
Half of the water used as a hydrogen source is recycled
Dark Stage
Carbon dioxide and hydrogen are used to make carbohydrate.
The energy to drive this process comes from ATP.

79. Syllabus Can you?...... Explain the role of ATP
Explain the production of ATP from ADP
Explain the role of NADP+ in trapping & transferring electrons & H ions.
Explain the Light Stage/Dark Stage
State the two-pathway system of electron carriage.
1. Direct to chlorophyll
2. Trapped by NADP+