Photosynthesis

• what is the word equation for photosynthesis?

  • carbon dioxide + water --> glucose + oxygen
• what is the symbol equation for photosynthesis?

  $CO_2$ + $H_2O$ --> $C_6H_{12}O_6\ +$$\ O_2$
• why is photosynthesis an endothermic reaction?


  • energy is transferred from the environment to the chloroplasts by light
• what are some limiting factors for photosynthesis?

  • temperature
  • light intensity
  • carbon dioxide concentration
  • amount of chlorophyll
• what is meant by a limiting factor?


  • factor that prevents the rate of a reaction from increasing
• what is light energy absorbed by in a plant?


  • chlorophyll found in chloroplasts
• if the rate of photosynthesis increases while light intensity increases...


  • this means that light intensity is the limiting factor at this point
• if at a certain point the rate of photosynthesis stops increasing...


  • light intensity is no longer the limiting factor
• why do all rates plateau at a certain point on a graph?


  • due to another factor being the limiting factor
• if you increase the temperature while keeping CO2 conc. constant...


  • the rate of photosynthesis increases
  • the rate of enzyme activity increases
• increasing carbon dioxide concentration..

  • increases the concentration of reactants
• what is the inverse square law?

  • light intensity ∝ 1/distance$^2$
• why do plants need glucose in the mitochondria?

  • to release energy in respiration
• why do plants use glucose for starch?

  • photosynthesis can only happen in the day when there is light
  • starch is an insoluble storage molecule
  • can be converted back into glucose when needed
• why is glucose converted into fats and oils?

  • they're used by the plants as a storage form of energy
• why is glucose used to produce cellulose?

  • cellulose helps strengthen the cell wall
• why is glucose used to produce amino acids?

  • they're used by plants for protein synthesis
  • to produce proteins, plants use nitrate ions from the soil