Chapter 8

The Working Cell:

Energy from
Sunlight

Biology
Question?

What comes to mind

when you think of
Photosynthesis?
Autotrophs & Photosynthesis
• Autotrophs- autotrophs such as plants
that depend on photosynthesis for
energy and carbon compounds.
• Photosynthesis – when plants use the
energy from sunlight to make sugar
(glucose) in their leaves.
• Specifically the Chloroplasts
 Chloroplast Structure
Chloroplast - cell organelle where photosynthesis takes
place (bag of thylakoids)

Thylakoid – Green Pancake like discs

- Where the Light Dependent Reaction occurs
(sunlight splits water)

Stroma – Thick fluid (cytoplasm) located around the

thylakoids where the Light Independent Reaction occurs
(glucose is made).
 (Light)
Carbon Dioxide + Water     Sugar (Glucose) + Oxygen
6CO2 + 6H2O    C6H12O6 + 6O2
As you can see from the formula, CO2 and H2O are
needed for photosynthesis.
•So where does carbon dioxide come from and how
does it get into the leaf?
•CO2 enters through openings in the underside of
the leaf called stomata which means “mouth”.
•How does water enter plants to use in
photosynthesis?
•Through their roots!
Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast
There are two steps that occur during photosynthesis:

1. Light Dependent Reaction: occurs in the

thylakoid (green pancakes) where water is split by
sunlight.

2. Light Independent Reaction: (or dark reaction or

Calvin Cycle) occurs in the stroma, where carbon
dioxide and H atoms are bonded into glucose.
Why does Chlorophyll come in
different Colors?
Summary
How is ATP made?
Synthesis or making of ATP
Depends on the concentration gradient of
protons ( H+) across the thylakoid
membrane
(Protons (H+) are produced from the splitting of
water by sunlight!)
Concentration of Protons is HIGHER in
the thylakoid than in the stroma
Enzyme, ATP synthetase in the thylakoid
membrane, makes ATP by adding
a phosphate group to ADP
ATP: the energy molecule of life
In Review: you MUST know this
What affects photosynthesis?
 Why?
1.Light intensity - As light intensity
increases, the rate of photosynthesis
initially increases and then levels off to a
plateau
2.Temperature - Only the dark, not the
light reactions are temperature dependent
because of the enzymes they use (25 oC to
37oC)
3.Length of day: amount of light
4.Level of air pollution
Man Made Leaves
What light do Solar Cells Absorb?
Remember What Plants Absorb?
U.S. Solar Capacity is expected
to increase 1000% by 2040