5.6 photosynthesis

• photosynthesis is the process by which green plants convert light energy into chemical energy
• photosynthesis equation is carbon dioxide + water -> glucose + oxygen
• plants photosynthesis because they need to grow and reproduce, and they need to store energy for this
• heterotrophs are organisms that obtain energy from other organisms
• autotrophic nutrition is when organisms obtain energy from inorganic molecules
• photoautotrophs are organisms that can make their own food using light energy from the sun
• carbon fixation is the process of converting carbon dioxide into glucose
• OILRIG stands for oxidation is loss reduction is gain
• photosystems are found in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts. They absorb light for photosynthesis.
• the two types of photosystems are PSII (680nm) and PSI (700nm)
• a chloroplast is a membrane-bound organelle that contains chlorophyll and is responsible for photosynthesis
• the light dependent stage is the 1st stage of photosynthesis where the products required for stage 2 are made with the support of sunlight.
• the light dependent stage occurs in the granum of the thylakoid membrane
• the light independent stage is the stage where light energy is converted into chemical energy in the chloroplasts
• the light independent stage takes place in the stroma of the chloroplasts
• the calvin cycle is the process of photosynthesis in which glucose is made from carbon dioxide and water
• Phosphorylation- adding phosphate to a molecule. E.g. ADP is phosphorylated to ATP.
• decarboxylation- the removal of carbon dioxide from a molecule.
• NADP transfers hydrogen from one molecule to another, used in photosynthesis in reduction or oxidation.
• Coenzymes used in respiration aree NAD, Coenzyme A and FAD.
• Thylakoids are stacked up in the chloroplast into structures called grana.
• Chloroplasts contain photosynthetic pigments. They are coloured substances that absorb the light energy needed for photosynthesis.
• The pigments are found in the thylakoid membranes, they are attached to proteins. These are called photosystems.
• Photosystems are made up of two main types of pigment - Chlorophyll a and b
• Carotenoids are also present in photosystems. They protect against damage caused by excess light energy.