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Photosynthesis

photosynthesis - converts radiant energy to chemical energy

  • 6CO2 + 12H2O >> C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
  • dependent on light and chlorophyll
  • oxygen released into environment; sugar used for growth or storage
  • reactant/product water molecules are different
  • chloroplast - organelle for photosynthesis
    • thylakoids - photosynthetic membranes
    • grana - stacks of thylakoids
    • lamellae - holds grana in place
    • stroma - semiliquid in chloroplasts
  • photochemical (light) reactions -
    • splits water to release O2, electrons, protons
    • almost at instantaneous speed
    • light-dependent
  • biochemical (dark) reactions (Calvin cycle) -
    • converts CO2 to sugar
    • fast, but slower than photochemical reaction
    • light-independent

paper chromatography - separates dissolved compounds

  • pigment - substance that absorbs light
    • primary photosynthetic pigments - chlorphyll a/b
    • accessory pigments - also absorb light; ex. carotene, xanthophyll
  • different mov't of pigments on paper due to solubility and tendencies to stick
  • pigments strongly absorbed move slowly
  • pigments weakly absorbed move faster
  • Rf = distance moved by pigment / distance from pigment origin to solvent front

spectroscope - instrument that separates white light into component colors

  • placing chlorophyll between light/spectroscope blocks out light absorbed by chlorophyll

fluorescence - release of light energy

  • light only produces reactions when absorbed by a molecule
  • chlorophyll appears green because it absorbs all other light wavelengths
  • light excites the electrons, bossting them to a higher energy level
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