Essential Question: How do the simple stages of photosynthesis and cell respiration occur?
Objective: Learning the stages of photosynthesis and how the process contributes to the earth’s ecosystem.
Definition: synthesis of chemical compounds with the aid of radiant energy and especially light; especially: formation of carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and a source of hydrogen (such as water) in the chlorophyll-containing cells (as of green plants) exposed to light Source: "Photosynthesis." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2018.
Key Terms:
Chlorophyll: green pigment in plants that absorbs light energy used for the chemical reactions of photosynthesis.
Products: Material formed by chemical reactions.
Reactants: Starting substances for chemical reactions.
Oxygen: O2; produced during photosynthesis used to reduce glucose.
Carbon Dioxide: Product of cell respiration used to produce glucose
Water: H2O; Similar to carbon dioxide, water’s purpose is to produce glucose and a product of cell respiration.
Adenosine Triphosphate: ATP; manufactured during cell respiration mainly used to store energy in the cell.
Chloroplast: Energy producing organelle, specific to eukaryotic cells, where photosynthesis occurs.
Mitochondria: Organelle, responsible for producing ATP, where respiration occurs.
Photosynthesis Summary Photosynthesis is the process, by which many green organisms convert light energy into energy that enable chemical reactions. Photosynthesis allows the plants to produce their own nutrients while expelling useful substances into the atmosphere like Oxygen. But photosynthesis requires reactants to enable the process.
Photosynthetic Equation
The Photosynthetic Equation indicates the materials needed to start the process. The Chloroplasts which make up the plant, contain chlorophyll which absorbs sunlight (light energy) . Carbon Dioxide from the surrounding air and cell respiration is absorbed. The energy formed from the previous reactions separate water, present in the stems and leaves, from the roots, into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. The products of the reaction include Oxygen, which is released and used for respiration, while the other, glucose is stored in the plant for converting energy through a separate set of chemical reactions called Cell Respiration. These are forms of light dependent reactions.
Photosynthesis Infograph
Cellular Respiration Cell Respiration is a set of metabolic reactions which transforms nutrients, (glucose) into ATP. For Cell Respiration to occur the glucose produced by photosynthesis must be converted from nutrients through the process of glycolysis. The Oxygen produced will also be used in cell respiration. Glycolysis, which occurs in the cytoplasm, converts nutrients from pyruvate to acetyl-coA. These products are moved into the mitochondria in the eukaryotic cell. Finally these newly converted enzymes along with citric acid cycle converts the substance into glucose.
Cellular Respiration Infograph
After cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria, ATP is manufactured of the plant to store energy. It in turn produces the reactants for photosynthesis and the products of photosynthesis is used for cell respiration as depicted above. Photosynthesis and Aerobic Cell Respiration is circulatory, by producing each other’s reactants. Enabling plants to be extremely efficient in producing chemical reactions and energy.
Review-Quiz
Using the incomplete infograph, what substances allow photosynthesis and respiration to occur?
a) Oxygen & ATP b) Carbon Dioxide & Sunlight c) Oxygen & Glucose d) Water & Glucose
2. Glycolysis is the process by which…. a) Fruits grow from the plants b) chloroplasts convert into glucose c) converts nutrients from pyruvate to acetyl-coA d) converts nutrients from acetyl-coA to pyruvate.
3. Photosynthesis is to chloroplast as Cellular Respiration is to…. a) ATP b) Mitochondria c) Glucose d) Carbon Dioxide
4. Explain in 2-4 complete sentences how photosynthesis and cellular respiration is a circular system? (hint: cell respiration infograph)
5. Briefly explain how Photosynthesis works. Use terms like reactions and products, Oxygen, Carbon dioxide, sunlight, glucose etc.