Photosynthesis

• What is the process of photosynthesis primarily responsible for?

  Converting simple inorganic compounds into complex organic ones
• What provides the energy required for photosynthesis?

  Light energy
• In which organisms does photosynthesis occur?

  Autotrophic organisms such as plants, algae, and cyanobacteria
• How is photosynthesis described in terms of energy conversion?

  It is a conversion from light energy to chemical energy stored in biomass
• Why is energy stored in organic compounds important for ecosystems?

  It provides most of the chemical energy needed for life processes
• What is the principle regarding energy in photosynthesis?

  Energy is never created or destroyed; it is only converted from one form to another
• What happens to carbon dioxide during photosynthesis?

  It is converted to glucose using hydrogen from split water molecules

  
• What are the reactants of photosynthesis?

  Carbon dioxide and water

  
• What are the products of photosynthesis?

  Glucose and oxygen

  
• How can the photosynthesis reaction be represented?

  In a word equation

  
• What is the relationship between photosynthesis and aerobic respiration?

  The products of photosynthesis are the reactants of aerobic respiration and vice versa
• What is released as a waste product during photosynthesis?

  Oxygen
• From where does the oxygen released during photosynthesis originate?

  From the water splitting process
• What is the significance of the chemical symbol equation for photosynthesis?

  It clarifies the paths of oxygen and hydrogen during the process

  
• What technique is used to separate photosynthetic pigments?

  Chromatography

  
• What are the two groups of photosynthetic pigments?

  Chlorophylls and carotenoids

  
• How do carotenoids assist chlorophyll in photosynthesis?

  They absorb different wavelengths of light, expanding the range of light available for photosynthesis

  
• What are the colors and names of the main chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments?

  • Chlorophyll a: Blue-green
  • Chlorophyll b: Yellow-green
  • β-carotene: Orange
  • Xanthophyll: Yellow

  
• What wavelengths do chlorophylls absorb?

  Wavelengths in the blue-violet and red regions of the light spectrum

  
• What wavelengths do carotenoids primarily absorb?

  Mainly in the blue-violet region of the spectrum

  
• What is chromatography used for in the context of photosynthesis?

  To separate mixtures of photosynthetic pigments

  
• How does chromatography separate components in a mixture?

  Different components travel through the material at different speeds

  
• What are the two common techniques for separating photosynthetic pigments?

  Paper chromatography and thin-layer chromatography (TLC)

  
• Why is TLC preferred over paper chromatography for separating pigments?

  TLC gives better results due to faster separation

  
• What is the purpose of using propanone in the chromatography method?

  To dissolve fats and release pigments from the leaf sample
• What is the significance of the R value in chromatography?

  It demonstrates how far a dissolved pigment travels through the stationary phase

  
• What does a higher R value indicate about a pigment?

  It indicates that the pigment is more soluble in the mobile phase
• What is a limitation of paper chromatography?

  It does not provide data on the amount of each pigment present
• What is an absorption spectrum?

  A graph showing the absorbance of different wavelengths of light by a pigment

  
• What happens to electrons in chlorophyll during photosynthesis?

  They are excited by light energy, triggering a series of reactions

  
• What is the action spectrum?

  A graph showing the rate of photosynthesis at different wavelengths of light

  
• At which wavelengths is the rate of photosynthesis highest?

  At the blue-violet and red regions of the light spectrum

  
• What is the correlation between absorption and action spectra?

  There is a strong correlation between the cumulative absorption spectra of all pigments and the action spectrum

  
• How can the rate of photosynthesis be determined experimentally?

  By measuring the volume of oxygen produced or carbon dioxide consumed

  
• What should be kept constant when measuring the effect of different wavelengths of light on photosynthesis?

  The distance of the lamp from the pondweed

  
• What is the first step in drawing an action spectrum for photosynthesis?

  Draw and label the axes

  
• What should the x-axis of an action spectrum represent?

  The wavelength in nanometers (nm)
• What should the y-axis of an action spectrum represent?

  The rate of photosynthesis as a percentage of maximum rate

  
• What is the significance of the green part of the spectrum in relation to leaves?

  It is largely reflected from the leaf, making them appear green

  
• What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?

  It absorbs light energy to drive the process of photosynthesis