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Main Purpose
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process where organisms transform sunlight energy,
carbon dioxide and water into chemical potential energy mainly glucose/
starch and produces oxygen as a waste product.
Organelle (draw
what it looks like
and label it
appropriately)
Equation
Where in the
cell? Why?
Around the outside of the cell, because light does not need to travel as far to
reach them
What types of
cells contain
these organelles?
All cells except some cells in animals e.g. blood cells and retina cells
Size?
Small
Larger
Structure (why
are they like
this?)
Mitochondrion contains many folded cristae increasing the surface area for a
larger number of reactions releasing energy (ATP).
Chloroplast contains many discs called grana which increase the surface area to
allow a greater number of light dependent reactions to occur.
Stages of Photosynthesis:
Light dependent stage: the chlorophyll in the thylakoid membrane absorbs solar
energy and uses this energy to split the water molecule into hydrogen and oxygen.
The oxygen is released from the chloroplast and the hydrogen is carried by NADP
to the stroma.
Light independent phase: also called the Calvin cycle - this occurs in the liquid
space of chloroplast or stroma. CO2 and hydrogen enter a biochemical cycle which
Stages
removed, producing acetyl coenzyme A and more hydrogen which moves to the
cristae.
3. Krebs cycle: occurs in the matrix. A series of reactions occur, producing CO2,
hydrogen and 2 ATP.
4. Electron transport chain: occurs on the cristae of the mitochondria. The
hydrogens are passed along the electron transport chain, releasing energy
which is captured as 34 ATP. Oxygen is required at this stage and water is
produced. Each glucose molecule produces 36 ATP during aerobic respiration.
uses ATP (from the light dependent phase) to produces glucose. The glucose
produced is then:
Used during respiration
Stored as insoluble starch
Used to make other organic chemicals that the organism needs e.g. fats,
proteins etc.
Other Details
Anaerobic Respiration:
If oxygen is absent only Glycolysis will occur, producing only 2ATPs: very few
organisms can obtain enough energy in the absence of oxygen. However, if it does
occur in muscle cells lactic acid is produced, or in yeast (fermentation) ethanol
and CO2 is produced. In both cases anaerobic respiration is limited by the build up