1. PHOTOSYNTHESIS Topic 2.9 IB Biology Miss Werba
Photosynthesis uses the energy in sunlight to produce the chemical energy needed for life.
Topic 2.9
IB Biology
Miss Werba

2. TOPIC 2 – MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
2.1
MOLECULES TO METABOLISM
2.2
WATER
2.3
CARBOHYDRATES & LIPIDS
2.4
PROTEINS
2.5
ENZYMES
2.6 STRUCTURE OF DNA & RNA
2.7 DNA REPLICATION, TRANSCRIPTION & TRANSLATION
2.8 CELL RESPIRATION
2.9 PHOTOSYNTHESIS
J WERBA – IB BIOLOGY 2

3. THINGS TO COVER U.1 U.2 U.3 U.4 U.5 U.6 Statement Guidance
Photosynthesis is the production of carbon compounds in cells using light Energy.
U.2
Visible light has a range of wavelengths with violet the shortest wavelength and red the longest.
Students should know that visible light has wavelengths between 400 and 700 nanometres, but they are not expected to recall the wavelengths of specific colours of light.
U.3
Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most effectively and reflects green light more than other colours.
U.4
Oxygen is produced in photosynthesis from the photolysis of water.
U.5
Energy is needed to produce carbohydrates and other carbon compounds from carbon dioxide.
U.6
Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on the rate of photosynthesis.
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4. THINGS TO COVER A.1 S.1 S.2 S.3 Statement Guidance NOS 3.1
Changes to the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and rock deposition due to photosynthesis.
S.1
Drawing an absorption spectrum for chlorophyll and an action spectrum for photosynthesis.
S.2
Design of experiments to investigate the effect of limiting factors on photosynthesis.
Water free of dissolved carbon dioxide for photosynthesis experiments can be produced by boiling and cooling water.
S.3
Separation of photosynthetic pigments by chromatograph (Practical 4)
Paper chromatography can be used to separate photosynthetic pigments but thin layer chromatography gives better results.
NOS 3.1
Experimental design
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5. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
U.1
Photosynthesis is used by producers to make chemical energy.
Plants and some other organisms (eg. algae) photosynthesise.
Photosynthesis is the production of carbon compounds in cells using light energy.
Photosynthesis involves the conversion of light energy into chemical energy (ATP)
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6. LIGHT ENERGY
U.2
Light from the Sun is composed of a range of wavelengths (colours)
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet
Light contains a range of wavelengths:
shortest – blue/violet ≈ 400nm
longest - red ≈ 700nm
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7. ABSORPTION OF LIGHT Chlorophyll is the main photosynthetic pigment.
U.3
Chlorophyll is the main photosynthetic pigment.
It is located in the chloroplasts.
Chlorophyll absorbs light in the light-dependent stage of photosynthesis
There are different types of chlorophyll:
main one = chlorophyll a
When chlorophyll absorbs light energy, it releases electrons which are used to make ATP (chemical energy)
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8. ABSORPTION OF LIGHT Chlorophyll absorbs mainly red and blue light
Chlorophyll does not absorb (reflects) green light
Explains why most leaves are green
Absorption spectrum: The spectrum of light absorbed by chlorophyll
Action spectrum: The spectrum of light used for photosynthesis
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9. ABSORPTION OF LIGHT
U.3
S.1
DRAW!
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10. LIGHT-DEPENDENT REACTIONS
U.4
Light energy is required for the first stage of photosynthesis
Light energy is used to:
produce ATP
to split water molecules to form O2 and H+ (=photolysis)
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11. LIGHT-INDEPENDENT REACTIONS
U.5
ATP and hydrogen (from the photolysis of water) are used to fix carbon dioxide to make organic molecules.
This allows for the production of more complex organic molecules (eg. sugars)
These organic molecules can then be stored to use in cellular respiration as required.
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12. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
U.4
U.5
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13. LIMITING PHOTOSYNTHESIS
U.6
Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on the rate of photosynthesis.
This means that their levels can impact upon the rate of photosynthesis.
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14. LIMITING PHOTOSYNTHESIS
U.6
Temperature:
Enzymes controlling photosynthesis are temperature sensitive
Increase temp  faster reaction - until enzymes denature
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15. LIMITING PHOTOSYNTHESIS
U.6
CO2 concentration:
Increase [CO2]  increase rate
Rate will plateau eventually when enzymes are working at maximum efficiency
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16. LIMITING PHOTOSYNTHESIS
U.6
Light intensity:
More light, more photosynthesis
Rate will plateau eventually when enzymes are working at maximum efficiency
Different wavelengths of light will have different effects on the rate of photosynthesis
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17. EXPERIMENTS OF LIMITING FACTORS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Oxygen Production:
Investigate formation of air bubbles from submerged plant
Count number or volume of bubbles in time period
Data logger measuring dissolved oxygen
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18. EXPERIMENTS OF LIMITING FACTORS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
CO2 uptake:
pH of water will rise as CO2 is absorbed from water
Investigate pH change in water with submerged plant
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19. EXPERIMENTS OF LIMITING FACTORS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Change in Biomass (indirect):
Investigate weight change in a dehydrated plant
Dehydration ensures the change in biomass reflects a change in organic matter and not water content
Investigate glucose production by determining the change in starch levels in a plant
Starch can be identified via iodine staining and quantified using a colorimeter
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20. INFLUENCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS ON EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE, OCEANS & ROCKS
The first photosynthetic organisms appeared on Earth ~3.5 billion years ago.
This was followed by the “Oxygen Catastrophe”, as a result of the large volume of oxygen gas being produced.
This resulted in the oxidation of some elements dissolved in the ocean water – eg. iron.
These would have then precipitated, and become part of the rock layers.
Iron-banded formations 
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21. INFLUENCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS ON EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE, OCEANS & ROCKS
At 1% oxygen, eukaryotic metabolism became possible.
As they increased, metabolic efficiency increased and aerobic organisms proliferated.
As the levels in the upper atmosphere increased further, sunlight would have acted on it and formed ozone, changing the conditions on Earth.
Oxygen levels kept rising, becoming close to 20% of the atmosphere ~ mya
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22. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Paper chromatography can be used to separate photosynthetic pigments.
Thin layer chromatography gives better results.
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23. J WERBA – IB BIOLOGY 23

24. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Q1. Which type of light is least useful for photosynthesis in terrestrial plants?
Blue
Green
White
Red
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25. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Q2. A plant is exposed to increasing light intensity from very dim to bright light, while the carbon dioxide concentration and temperature are kept at an optimum level. What will happen to the rate of oxygen production?
It will increase exponentially.
It will remain constant.
It will decrease to a minimum level.
It will increase to a maximum level.
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26. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Q3. Outline how light energy is used and how organic molecules are made in photosynthesis. (6 marks)
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