Process of Photosynthesis

• Living organisms get their energy from the Sun
• Photosynthesis is the process where light energy from the Sun is used by plants to make glucose
• Glucose produced in photosynthesis is used during cellular respiration to produce energy for all organisms
• Oxygen released as a by-product of photosynthesis is used in cellular respiration
• Chlorophyll is a green pigment found inside plant organelles called Chloroplasts
• Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most strongly and reflects green light
• Chloroplasts have an outer and inner membrane
• Stroma is a gel-like material enclosed by the inner membrane
• Thylakoid discs are suspended in the stroma and contain chlorophyll that absorbs light energy
• A stack of thylakoid creates a structure called Granum (plural: Grana)
• Photosynthesis occurs in two main stages: Light-dependent stage and Light-independent stage
• Light-dependent stage occurs in Thylakoids/Thylakoid membranes
• Light-independent stage occurs in Stroma
• Outputs of Light-dependent stage become inputs of Light-independent stage
• Outputs of Light-independent stage become inputs of Light-dependent stage
• Factors affecting photosynthesis include: Carbon Dioxide, water, light intensity, colour of light, and temperature
• Increase in Carbon Dioxide concentration increases the rate of photosynthesis
• Decrease in water levels reduces the rate of photosynthesis due to stomatal closure and reduced CO2 absorption
• Increase in light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis until a plateau is reached
• Chlorophyll in green plants absorbs blue and red light most effectively
• Optimal temperature is required for highest enzyme activity and rate of photosynthesis
• Enzyme activity and reactants move slower at low temperatures and faster at higher temperatures
• Highest enzyme activity and rate of photosynthesis occur at the optimal temperature of the enzyme
• Enzymes lose their shape and function at high temperatures
• Rate of photosynthesis can be measured by either the amount of Carbon Dioxide consumed over time or the amount of Oxygen produced over time