PHOTOSYNTHESIS

1. Define the term of photosynthesis.

In autotrophic nutrition, organisms such as green plants and photosynthetic bacteria

produce their own organic nutrients using simple organic raw materials and energy. If
the energy used is light, mainly sunlight, the autotrophic process is known as
photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is the synthesis of organic compounds from simple inorganic materials,

namely carbon dioxide and water, in the presence of chlorophyll that absorbs the light
energy required. The organic compounds synthesised are mainly carbohydrates,
proteins and lipids.

Photosynthesis is the chemical process by which plants and other photoautotroph

synthesize organic compounds from CO2 and H2O in the presence of sunlight

Plant cells with

visible chloroplasts.

In all green plants, photosynthesis occurs in cells with choloroplasts. The green
pigment chlorophyll, located within the chloroplast, absorbs energy from sunlight.

The light energy absorbed is then converted to chemical energy in organic compounds
such as sugars, starch, amino acids and lipids, and oxygen is released as a by-product.

These photosynthetic products have a higher energy content than that of the raw
materials (CO2 and H2O). Photosynthesis is thus an endergonic process

1
 Chlorophyll plays an important role in the absorption of light energy during
photosynthesis.

The leaf is the primary site of

photosynthesis in plants.

Equation for Photosynthesis

Light

6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

Chloropl
Carbon Water asts Glucose Oxygen
Dioxides

the product of the process is

sugar (Glucose) and O2

2
The many biochemical reactions involved in photosynthesis can be divided into two
phases, namely

a) The light-dependent reaction, which occurs in the grana of chloroplasts and

requires a continual supply of light, and
b) The light-independent reaction, which occurs in the stroma of chloroplast and
can carry on for some time in darkness after the light-dependent reaction.

During the light dependent reaction, several intermediate compounds are produced
which are later gradually used up in the light-independent reaction.

Photosynthesis in important because it

a) Produces the building blocks for complex compound in plants such as
cellulose and lignin
b) Provides the energy needed for chemical changes in the form of ATP
c) Provides food to primary consumers (directly) and secondary (and higher)
consumers (indirectly)
d) Help reduce excess C02 and increase oxygen concentrations in the air.

3
1. Explain the Photosystem I and Photosystem II.

A photosystem

In the thylakoid membrane, chlorophyll is organized along with proteins and smaller
organic molecules into photosystems

A photosystem acts like a light-gathering “antenna complex” consisting of a few

hundred chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b,and carotenoid molecules.

Each photosystem - reaction-center chlorophyll a and primary electron acceptor

surrounded by an antenna complex - functions in the chloroplast as a light-harvesting
unit.

4
There are two types of photosystems.

a. Photosystem I has a reaction center chlorophyll, the P700 center -

absorption peak at 700nm.
b. Photosystem II has a reaction center chlorophyll, the P680 center
-absorption peak at at 680nm.

These two photosystems work together to use light energy to generate ATP and
NADPH

Location of the photosystems

– thylakoids

Process involved:
• Photoactivated of Photosystem I & Photosystem II
• Photolysis of water
• NADPH & ATP is produced
• Non-cyclic & cyclic photophosphorylation

5
 Photosystem

Photosystem I & Photosystem II

Photosystem I acts as its own, without photosystem II in cyclic photophosphorylation.

While in Non-cyclic photophosphorilation photosystem I and Photosystem II involved.

Cyclic photophosphorylation.

6
Non-cyclic photophosphorylation