Choi 1

Wendy Choi

Mr. Cook

IB Biology (Period 3)

28 Dec 2008

Biology Syllabus 8.2.1 – 8.2.8, 3.8.1 – 3.8.6

8.2.1 Draw and label a diagram showing the structure of a chloroplast as seen in electron micrographs.

8.2.2 State that photosynthesis consists of light-dependent and light-independent reactions.

Photosynthesis consists of light-dependent and light-independent reactions.

8.2.3 Explain the light dependent reactions.

12 H2O + 12 NADP+ + 18 ADP + 18 Pi + light and chlorophyll  6 O2 + 12 NADPH + 18 ATP

When light hits Photosystem II (contains an antenna pigment in a thylakoid within a

chloroplast), it causes electrons to gain energy, become excited and increase in energy level. This causes
the e- to be unstable, so electrons decrease in energy level by an electron transport chain in the membrane
of the thylakoids. As the electrons move from higher to lower energy levels, they release energy. The
released energy is then used to pump protons from the stroma to the thylakoid space, causing a
concentrated hydrogen level in the thylakoid space. Thus, protons diffuse back into the stroma down its
concentration gradient. As the protons pass through ATP synthase channels, they activate this enzyme
and catalyze the phosphorylation of ADP to ATP. Photosystem I absorbs light, and electrons are boosted
to a higher energy level as in the case of Photosystem II. The electrons are not stable there, and so they
start moving down to a lower energy level through the electron carriers of the electron transport chain of
Photosystem I. The energy they release is used to reduce NADP into NADPH. Then electrons lost from
Photosystem II are replaced by electrons from water as it splits by photolysis— the splitting of water.
Electrons lost from Photosystem I are replaced by electrons coming down from the electron transport
chain of Photosystem II. Finally, the formation of ATP from this system is called Chemiosmotic
Photophosphorylation.

8.2.4 Explain photophosphorylation in terms of chemiosmosis.

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Photophosphorylation converts light energy into chemical energy (phosphate bonds of ATP
molecules). Then, an antenna pigment in a thylakoid within a chloroplast in Photosystem 2 aborbs
the light energy, bring electrons to a higher energy level. The energy is passed along antenna pigments
until it reaches a P680 molecule. The energy excites an electron on the P680 molecule which is
transferred to the reaction center and electron transport chain. To replace the lost electron, an
electron is taken from the photolysis of water, creating oxygen as a byproduct. As the electron passes
along the chain, it gives energy to the protein pumps, causing the pumps to force protons into the
confined thylakoid space. These protons then diffuse out of the thylakoid through ATP synthase proton
channels, producing ATP.

8.2.5 Explain the light-independent reactions.

Some calls this the Calvin Cycle because Melvin Calvin clearly explained this cycle before. It
happens in the stroma of the chloroplast using CO2, ATP, and H+ molecules from NADPH. The
cycle begins with ribulose phosphate (available in seeds).

Ribulose phosphate + a phosphate group from ATP = Ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP)

RuBP rubisco (enzyme) CO2 = Phospho-glycerate (PGA/GP)

PGA & H+ from NADPH + ATP = Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (PGAL/G3P/TP)

2 molecules of PGAL are then used to make glucose and the rest reforms into ribulose phosphate
again so the cycle of photosynthesis can continue.

8.2.6 Explain the relationship between the action spectrum and the absorption spectrum of photosynthetic
pigments green plants.

In photosynthesis, plants use the visible light spectrum from 400-700 nanometers. Green plants
reflect green wavelengths of light and absorb red, orange, some yellow, blue, indigo, and violet
wavelengths of light. In other words, the absorption spectrum of photosynthetic pigments in green
plants is high for upper and lower wave lengths of light, but not for middle wave lengths of light
(green), which are reflected by the photosynthetic pigments and therefore not absorbed.

8.2.8 Explain the concept of limiting factors with reference to light intensity, temperature and
concentration of carbon dioxide.

Photosynthesis speeds up when light intensity, temperature, and concentration of carbon

dioxide increases. However, there are limits on these factors with a seemingly linear
relationship. If temperature increased at a rate that becomes too high, the rate of photosynthesis
slows as the sugar production enzymes are denatured. In addition, plant can only create a
certain amount of sugar at any one time, its limited amount of protein pumps, enzymes, and
thylakoids for photosynthesis disallows extremely high levels of carbon dioxide and light.

3.8.1 State that Photosynthesis involves the conversion of light energy into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis involves the conversion of light energy into chemical energy.

3.8.2 State that light from the Sun is composed of a range of wavelengths. (Colors)

Sunlight (white light) is actually composed of a range of wavelengths including red, blue, and green.
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3.8.3 State that chlorophyll is the main photosynthetic pigment

The structure of chlorophyll allows it to absorb some colors of wavelength better than others.

3.8.4 Outline the differences in absorption of red, blue and green light by chlorophyll

Generally, red & blue lights are absorbed more than green. The green light is reflected off giving
plants (and the pigment chlorophyll) their green color.

3.8.5 State that light energy is used to split water molecules (photolysis) to give oxygen and hydrogen and
to produce ATP

Part of the energy absorbed by chlorophyll is utilized in the production of ATP, and some of the
energy absorbed by chlorophyll is used to split water molecules in a process known as photolysis
of water. Photolysis of water results in the formation of oxygen and hydrogen, and oxygen
becomes released as a waste product.

3.8.6 State that ATP and hydrogen (derived from photolysis of water) are used to fix carbon dioxide to
make organic molecules.

Carbon dioxide is absorbed for use in photosynthesis, and the carbon from it is used to make a wide
range of organic substances .The conversion of carbon from gas to solid compounds is called carbon
fixation, a process which involves hydrogen from photolysis and energy from ATP.

Works Cited

Bishop, M. B., and C. B. Bishop. "Photosynthesis and Carbon Dioxide Fixation."Journal of Chemical
Education 64 (1987): 302–305.

Govindjee, and W. J. Coleman. "How Plants Make O2." Scientific American 262 (February 1990): 50–58.

Youvan, D. C., and B. L. Marrs. "Molecular Mechanisms of Photosynthesis." Scientific American 256
(June 1987): 42–48.