B10 - Photosynthesis

• Chlorophyll

  The green pigment in the chloroplasts
• Photosynthesis

  A type of endothermic reaction
• Energy used in photosynthesis

  Light energy
• Photosynthesis

  Carbon dioxide + Water → Glucose + Oxygen
• Limiting factor

  Anything that limits the rate of a reaction when it is in short supply
• Limiting factors of photosynthesis

  • Light intensity
  • Carbon dioxide concentration
  • Temperature
  • Amount of chlorophyll
• Increasing light intensity

  Increases the rate of photosynthesis until another factor becomes limiting
• Increasing carbon dioxide concentration

  Increases the rate of photosynthesis until another factor becomes limiting
• Increasing temperature

  Increases the rate of photosynthesis as the reaction rate increases, but at high temperatures enzymes are denatured so the rate of photosynthesis quickly decreases
• Importance of limiting factors in the economics of growing plants in greenhouses

  Greenhouses need to produce the maximum rate of photosynthesis whilst making profit
• How plants use the glucose produced in photosynthesis

  • Convert it into insoluble starch for storage
  • Produce fat or oil for storage
  • Produce cellulose to strengthen cell walls
  • Produce amino acids for protein synthesis
• Where does photosynthesis occur?

  Chloroplasts in the leaves of a plant