photosynthesis

• carbon dioxide + water = oxygen and glucose
• plants use light energy to make their food, glucose and oxygen.
• plants take in carbon dioxide through tiny pores in the leaf called the stoma
• plants take in water from the roots in the soil and transport it to the leaves through the stem
• a carbohydrate is produced which is glucose. this is stored into starch and used for storage
• oxygen is produced. this is a waste product and is given off through the stoma
• 6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
• chlorophyll is a green pigment found in the chloroplasts of cells in the leaf.
• chlorophyll absorbs light energy to use for photosynthesis.
• boil the leaf in hot water for to kill the cells
• turn off bunsen burner for safety (ethanol is flammable) then boil the leaf in hot water to decolourise the leaf.
• dip the leaf in warm water to soften it.
• place on a white tile and add iodine. if it turns brown, starch is not present. if it turns black, starch is present
• Waxy Cuticle - Waterproof layer that prevents water loss from the leaf surfaceB - Upper Epidermis - transparent to allow sunlight pass throughC - Palisade Mesophyll Layer - main site of photosynthesis. produces glucose and energy for the leaf