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What is Photosynthesis? Photosynthesis is the process by which living plant cells containing chlorophyll produce food substances(glucose and starch),from carbon dioxide and water by using light energy. Plants release oxygen as a waste product during photosynthesis. Importance of Photosynthesis
1)

Food for all-It is ultimately the source of energy for all living beings directly for plants and indirectly for animals and humans. Oxygen It is the only biological process which

2)

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Chlorophyll

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Chlorophyll is the green coloured matter found in plants. It is contained in microscopic cell organelles called chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are minute oval bodies by a double membrane, and their interior contains closely packed flattened sacs (thylakoids) arranged in piles(grana) lying in a colourless ground substance called stroma. Ordinarily there are 40-50 chloroplasts in a cell. Chlorophyll is contained in the wall of thylakoids. It is a complex substance composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and magnesium. They are also found in the guard cells of stomata and the mesophyll. There are about 50000 chloroplasts per sq.mm of leaf surface. It is highly sensitive to light so too much light may destroy it. However the formation of chlorophyll depends on exposure

Stomata
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Stomata are minute openings occurring in large members on the lower surface .The main function is to let in CO2 from the atmosphere for photosynthesis. They tend to close their openings when it is dark and they are not in use to minimise water loss through transpiration. When there is light they reopen to let CO2 diffuse in. The closing and opening of the stomata are on account of the movement of water in and out of the guard cells There are two theories about the opening end closing of stomata
1.

Sugar concentration theory K+ ion concentration theory

2.

7/12/12 PROCESS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Mesophyll cells in a leaf are the principal centers of this activity. During daytime, when sunlight falls on the leaf ,the light energy is trapped by the upper layers of mesophyll. This energy is utilised in chemical processes involved in the manufacture of food where the raw materials used are carbon dioxide and water. 6CO2+!2H2O sunlight & chlorophyll C6H12O6+6H2O+6O2 The two main phases of photosynthesis are a) Light dependent phase b) Light independent phase

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Adaptations in Leaves for Photosynthesis

1. Large surface area to obtain maximum light. 2. Leaf arrangement at right angles to obtain maximum light.
.

3. Cuticle and upper transparent and allow entry of light.

.

epidermis are water proof to

4. Numerous stomata to allow rapid exchange of gases. 5. The thinness of leaves reduce the distance for rapid transport. 7/12/12
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End results of photosynthesis

There are three photosynthesis end products of

1. Glucose -it is used in four different ways (i) Immediately consumed (ii)Stored as insoluble starch (iii)Converted into sucrose (iv)Used in synthesising fats, proteins, etc. 2. Water it photosynthesis may be reutlilised in

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Factors

affecting photosynthesis

There are four external and three internal factors which affect photosynthesis:
External factors
v

Internal factors

Light intensity Carbon dioxide concentration Temperature Water content

Chlorophyll Protoplasm Structure of leaf

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Experiments on photosynthesis
A number of experiments can be performed for proving the various conditions and requirements necessary for photosynthesis. Destarching (removal of starch )- a plant used for experiments on photosynthesis should initially be placed in the dark for 28 to 48 hours to destarch the leaves .During this period all the starch from qBoil the leaf in methylated spirit over a water bath till it becomes pale-white due to thethe leaves will be removed. leaf now becomes removal of chlorophyll. The hard and brittle Test for starchqPlace it again in hot water to soften it q Dip the leaf in boiling water for a minute to qSpread the leaf in a kill the cells dish and pour iodine solution on it .The 7/12/12 presence of starch will be indicated by blue black colour . A leaf without starch will show brown colouration

To show that chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis

q

q q q

Destarch the leaves by keeping the plant in a dark room for a few days. Place the plant in the sun Make its few ours ,pluck and mark the green After a outline on paper one and non green areas on the outline leaf Test the leaf for starch .Only the green parts of the leaf turn bluish ,showing the presence of starch
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*Take

a plant with destarched leaves *Cover one of its leaves with black paper on which a design is cut *Place this plant in the sun

To show that sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis

*After

a few hours test the leaf which is covered by black paper for the presence of starch It will be observed that only the parts of the leaf through the cut out design as well as those that were left uncovered by paper turn blue-black showing the presence of starch 7/12/12

To show that carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis Take a plant with
destarched leaves Insert one of its leaves into a conical flask containing potassium hydroxide

Leave the plant in sunlight After a few hours ,test this and any other leaf of this plant for starch The leaf which was exposed to the 7/12/12 atmospheric air becomes blue black and

Place some water plants in a beaker containing pond water and cover them by a short stemmed funnel water over the Invert a test tube full of stem of the funnel
Place

To show that oxygen is produced during photosynthesis

the apparatus in the sun for a few hours. Bubbles of the gas will collect in the test tube the gas in the test tube .A glowing 7/12/12

Test

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Importance of photosynthesis
q

Provides foodrat snake hawk tiger rabbit

Corn Grass
q

Provides oxygen

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Carbon Cycle
I.

Photosynthesis- green plants use CO2 to produce carbohydrates passes on from plants to animals

II. Food chains-through food chains the food III. Respiration-all plants and animals respire by

oxidising carbohydrates and give out carbon dioxide into the atmosphere bacteria and in the process release CO2

IV. Decay-the dead remains are consumed by V. Combustion-when a fuel is burnt the carbon
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contained in it is oxidised to carbon dioxide

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THANK YOU

By Shayan and Pahal

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