UNIT 4 TOPIC 1 PHOTOSYNTHESIS 1:

FUNDAMENTALS
Complete the notes sheets below. Where you see a
blank (..), decide which word/phrase is
most appropriate.
What is photosynthesis?
Plants are : this means that they make their own
organic compounds using CO2. This is mostly achieved via

whereby

they

trap

energy

from

the

and it to energy
stored in the bonds of carbohydrates by splitting the H-O bonds in
water and combining the atoms produced with
CO2.
Save for a relatively small number of bacteria
which synthesize organic food molecules using chemicals (eg.
surrounding black smokers), all life on earth depends on the
energy trapped during .
Write down the word and symbol equations for
photosynthesis:

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Word equation:
+
+

Symbol equation:
+
+

DEFINITION: Energy

****REMEMBER*** Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can

only be converted from one form to another.

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)

ATP is a phosphorylated nucleotide. It is commonly referred to as
the universal . .

Add the following labels to the diagram below left

and then draw and label a simplified version
showing the basic structure to the right: Adenine,
Adenosine, Ribose, Phosphate groups.

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ATP can be to form ADP and Pi (),

releasing 30.6 KJ.mol-1 of energy. This is a reversible reaction. ATP
is a - lived molecule which is constantly being
hydrolysed (using the enzyme ) and resynthesized
(using the enzyme .) .
ATP + H20 ADP + Pi (+approx. 34 KJ.mol-1)
ATP is derived from . We can tell this because the
sugar is .

Using ATP
ATP provides energy for processes such as:
a. ..: Moving ions and molecules against a
concentration gradient.
b. ..: Secretion of large molecules.

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c. ..: Movement of large molecules into

cells.
d. ..: Synthesis of large molecules from
smaller ones.
e. ..: Preparing a cell for anaphase.
f. ..:
Powering
bacterial
flagella,
eukaryotic cilia, muscle contraction and microtubule motors
that transport organelles.

Forming ATP
ATP is formed from and . In
respiration, some ATP is formed during in the
cytoplasm, but the majority is formed in the
(a process that also occurs
during photosynthesis).
acceptors

(NADPH

in

In this process, reduced hydrogen

or

NADH/FADH2 in

) pass electrons along a series of membranebound carriers, releasing a small amount of

which is used to pump H + ions into an intermembrane/interior
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space. In the final step, H + ions flow down the resulting

and gradient, driving the head of
an ATP synthase molecule and catalysing the formation of ATP
from ADP and Pi (covered in detail in topic 7). This is known as
.

Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts are large organelles containing stacks of membrane
discs

called

where

the

green

pigment

() is found. The stacks themselves are known as

. The matrix surrounding these stacks is called

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the . This contains the enzymes needed for the

production of .
Label: Stroma, Granum, Outer Membrane, Inner
Membrane, Thylakoid

Chlorophyll
There are 5 closely related pigments including
(blue-green),

(yellow-green)

and

the

(orange carotene and yellow xanthophyll). The

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most

common

is

photosynthesising

,
plants,

though

which

having

is

found

different

in

all

pigments

ensures optimum use of energy. The pigments

are found bound to proteins on membranes. A
complex comprising a protein and its associated pigment
molecules are known as a .

ESSENTIALS
1. Oxidation and reduction
***REMEMBER*** OIL RIG
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O.
I..
L.

R..
I
G.

Oxidation and reduction are coupled, since if one substrate

becomes oxidised, another must be reduced. Such reactions are
called REDOX reactions.

2. Photosynthesis is a multi-step process.

The multitude of reactions that take place from start to finish
can be summarised in two key stages:
a. Light-dependent

reactions

(take

place

produce

materials

which

can

reactions.

then

be

These

used

in

the

reactions

using

the

suns

occur
energy

on
to

the
split

molecules (a reaction),
passing the H atoms on to nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) (forming NADPH or

NADP).

produced in a process called .

b. Light-independent
reactions
(take

is

also
place

). These reactions use

the

and

produced

during the light- reactions. A series of

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chemical reactions called the cycle

take place in the of a .
CO2 from the is to form
.

Label:
Lightdependent
reactions.
Products of the
lightdependent
reactions.
Lightindependent
reactions.
Takes place on
the thylakoid
membranes.

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