Photosynthesis Essay

The Importance Of Photosynthesis In Plants
Photosynthesis in plants is one of the most important chemical reactions on the planet.
Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction necessary to sustain all forms of life. Only plants, and some
very specialized animals, called autotrophs are able to turn sunlight into usable chemical energy.
Autotrophs turn inorganic molecules into complex organic molecules through solar or chemical
energy. Autotrophs also have the capacity to store energy, such as carbon compounds which can be
passed to other organisms that consume them. Plants are the base of the flow of energy and
therefore a primary producer.(Miller and Levine, 2014) Other organisms can break down the carbon
compounds consumed through plants and release it through respiration to be used again by plants.
This is known as the carbon cycle. But what makes this happen? In an indoor or laboratory setting,
what types of artificial light can be most efficiently used as a substitute for sunlight?
Plants provide the basis for most food chains. Even the energy consumer came from plants at one
point. Photosynthesis is used to store nutrients and other carbon compounds in plants that are also
vital for many other organisms. Photosynthesis mainly occurs in two stages, the light stage, and the
dark stage. These take place in photosystems I and II. "These hold chlorophyll molecules and, when
chlorophyll is struck by a photo of light, an electron becomes energized and water molecules bind."
( Updegraff, 2017). Water is split into hydrogen and
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Photosynthesis Lab Hypothesis
During this experiment the scientist tested this question "What combination of light intensity, light
color, and CO2 level would produce the highest amount of photosynthesis?" The scientist believed
the highest amount of CO2 level and light level along with each using white light would produce the
highest amount of photosynthesis possible. The amount of oxygen bubbles we got ranged from 4 to
28. However when we put the results from each test together, we only got 26 bubbles. The scientist
believes with more testing of each combination, we could find a better ratio. The data unfortunately
did not support the scientist's hypothesis. The scientist now thinks one of the factors of why his
hypothesis was incorrect was he forgot to take

Photosynthesis Process
Photosynthesis is a process that plans protistans and some bacteria, use energy from the sun to create
sugar. Cellular respiration turns into ATP which is fuel used by all living things. The transformation
of sunlight energy into chemical energy, also goes along with the same process as green pigment
chlorophyll. The photosynthetic process mostly uses water and releases the oxygen that is mandatory
for us humans must have to live. The two stages connected with Photosynthesis are called light
dependent reactions and light independent reactions, light independent reactions is also known as
the Calvin Cycle. Light dependent reactions need sunlight, the energy from this sunlight is
consumed by chlorophyll and made into stored energy. This energy is now in the form of electron
carrier molecule NADPH...show more content...
These reactions working in respiration are called catabolic reactions, that break bigger molecules
down into smaller molecules , letting energy release in the operation , as weak so called high energy
components are substituted by stronger components in the produce. Respiration is mainly how a cell
releases energy to start the cellular procedure. Cellular respiration is thought of as an exoergic redox
reaction that puts off heat. The general reaction happens in a multitude of biochemical processes,
most of these are redox responses their selves. Even though cellular respiration happens to be a
combustion metathesis , it obviously does not appear as one during its process in a living cell
because of its sluggish discharge of energy from the multitude of oxidisation. The different stages of
cellular respiration consist of but are not limited to pyruvate oxidation, glycolysis, oxidative
phosphorylation, and the citric acid or Krebs

Essay about photosynthesis lab report
Photosynthesis Lab Report
Purpose:
To research the effect of different wavelengths (colors) of light on plant growth during
photosynthesis.
Background Information:
Photosynthesis is the process by which sunlight is captured by chloroplasts within plant cells and
turned into energy. This energy is used to help the plant grow roots, leaves, flowers and fruit.
Energy is required by living things to: change shape, transportation, movement, growth, reproduction,
etc.
Red and blue light have the greatest effect on plant growth after white light
The main pigment is chlorophyll which reflects green lights l
Green and yellow light are the...show more content...
The dependent variable in this experiment was the plant growth.
Constants:
The amount of light each plant received
How each plant was planted
Where each plant was planted (in box)
Amount of water each plant was given
Control Group
The control in this experiment was the white light because it has all the colors available to the plant.
Procedure:
1. Each box was placed in a room set to 70 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Each Styrofoam cup was filled with 4oz. of soil
3. One ungerminated sugar snap pea was planted in each cup
4. A hole was cut big enough for the light bulb to fit in the top of the box
5. A specificcolor of cellophane was placed on each light bulb
6. Each light was placed in the hole previously cut out on each box.
7. Each light was connected a timer in order to regulate the amount of light each plant received
8. Three Styrofoam cups were placed in each box.
9. Each plant was given one tablespoon of water a day
10. Measurements(in centimeters) were taken and recorded for each plant daily for four weeks
Data Chart: Total Growth of Sugar Snap Peas Using Different Color Lights after 4 Weeks
Light Color
Height of Plant (cm)
Red Light
18.4
Blue Light
20.6
Green Light
18.3

Yellow Light
17.3
White Light
20.9
Data Graph:
Average Growth of Sugar Snap Peas under Different Wavelengths of Light
Conclusion:
This

Photosynthesis
Practical 2: Photosynthesis Introduction: Photosynthesis is a vital process in plants as carbon
dioxide is used to form sugars and other complex compounds for growth. There are two basic
processes in photosynthesis: light–dependent and light–independent. Light–dependent process, a
temperature–independent reaction where light energy is absorbed by the photosynthetic pigments
and transformed into chemical energy which is used for water, splitting into oxygen molecule,
proton (H+) for driving ATP during phosphorylation, and electron (e
–) which is being passed down
the electron transport chain to yield NADPH. Light–independent, temperature–dependent reaction
occurs to form carbohydrate and water molecule by the assimilation...show more content...
At time zero (minutes), absorbance was recorded for all treatments immediately after addition of
DCPIP and mixing of contents. Immediately following the time zero reading, tube 2 was wrapped
in aluminium foil and tubes 6 and 7 were wrapped with red and green lanterns paper respectively.
Tubes 1–7 were capped then placed horizontally on ice in a huge container, under lights. At thirteen
minute intervals, readings of absorbance were taken for all treatments, except for the dark tube
which was kept wrapped in foil for 90 minutes, after which its absorbance was measured.
Discussion: In Tube 2 (Dark), the initial absorbance is higher than that at 90 minutes which does not
match my prediction, where the absorbance should have no difference. This difference may cause by
some electrons produced from light–dependent reaction that are left behind in the silverbeet leaves
before the tube is covered by aluminium foil. Therefore, the remained electrons inside the tube
reduce DCPIP during the time intervals. Tube 3 (Light) shows a gradually decreasing trend which
meets my prediction. Under the exposure of light, light–dependent reaction is able to be conducted
by silverbeet chlorophyll, thus more electrons being produced which reduce DCPIP. Hence, the
higher the rate of DCPIP turns into colourless. Only a slight change in the absorbance of Tube 4
(Boiled) over 90 minutes period as chloroplast consists of chlorophyll–protein

Process of Photosynthesis Essay
Photosynthesis is the process by which organisms that contain the pigment chlorophyll convert light
energy into chemical energy which can be stored in the molecular bonds of organic molecules.
Photosynthesis powers almost all trophic chains and food webs on the Earth.
The net process of photosynthesis is described by the following equation:
6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2
This equation simply means that carbon dioxide from the air and water combine in the presence of
sunlight to form sugars, oxygen is released as a by–product of this reaction.
Photosynthesis begins when light strikes Photosystem I pigments and excites their electrons. The
energy passes rapidly from molecule to molecule until it reaches a special...show more content...
Before it can function again, it must be replenished with new electrons. Photosystem II accomplishes
this task. As in Photosystem I, light energy activates electrons of the Photosystem II pigments. These
pigments transfer the energy of their excited electrons to a special Photosystem II chlorophyll
molecule, P680, that absorbs light best in the red region at 680 nanometers. Just as in Photosystem I,
energy is transferred among pigment molecules and is then directed to the P680 chlorophyll, where
the energy is used to transfer electrons from P680 to its adjoining electron acceptor molecule.
From the Photosystem II electron acceptor, the electrons are passed through a different electron
transport chain. As they pass along the cascade of electron carrier molecules, the electrons give up
some of their energy to fuel the production of ATP, formed by the addition of one phosphorus atom
to adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Eventually, the electron transport carrier molecules deliver the
Photosystem II electrons to Photosystem I, which uses them to maintain the flow of electrons to
P700, thus restoring its function.
P680 in Photosystem II is now electron deficient because it has donated electrons to P700 in
Photosystem I. P680 electrons are replenished by the water that has been absorbed by the plant roots
and transported to the chloroplasts in the leaves. The movement of electrons in

Photosynthesis is the conversion of light energy to chemical energy. There are many different
factors that can affect the rate of photosynthesis, those being light intensity, the temperature of the
water, the amount of carbon dioxide in the water, and the color of the light. In this experiment we
chose to alter the color of light that was used in the process involving the aquatic plant Elodea while
maintaining the other 3 factors. This experiment was conducted to see how much of an effect the
color of the light played in the amount of carbon dioxide produced in the process of photosynthesis.
We measured the amount of NaOH that was needed to color the water pink and then converted the
net difference of drops into the net volume of carbon dioxide that was produced or consumed. The
results showed that there was not a significant difference in the amount of carbon dioxide produced
when using a standard regular colored light bulb compared to a green light bulb.
Introduction
Elodea, an aquatic plant, is very commonly used in classrooms around the world to help teach the
process of photosynthesis (Berkeley 2015). Photosynthesis is the conversion of light energy to
chemical energy. The process of photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast of the plants. Inside the
chloroplast is chlorophyll, which is what absorbs the light energy from the sunlight. Light intensity,
the temperature of the water, the amount of carbon dioxide in the water, and the color of light used
are four factors

Photosynthesis Research Paper
Photosynthesis is the processes that captures energy from the sunlight to male sugars that store
chemical energy. and cell respiration releases chemical energy from sugars and other carbon based
molecules to make atp when oxygen is presented. and atp is the molecule that transfers energy from
the breakdown of food molecules to cell processes. With all of these process they work together to
capture energy by the sun and convert it into everyg of life. It starts with the photosynthesis. First, the
carbon dioxide and oxygen will enter the leaves in plants through the stomata. then the water travels
from the roots and will go into the vascular system. then chloroplast absorbs sunlight. However,
there's 2 part in hopothesis. The parts re light dependant and light independent....show more content...
And the light independent happens to make atp used to make the glucose. Atp is very important
since cells use it for functions. however, with photosynthesis the cell respiration and photosynthesis
chloroplast absorb the energy from sunlight and build sugras, then the mitochondria will release the
chemical energy to make atp. the cell respiration starts with 3 carbon molecules they enter cell
respiration in mitochondria, and the energy carrying molecules transfer energy to electron transport.
so next the energy carrying molecule which atp molecules are produced. last heat and water are
released as waste

Photosynthesis Research Paper
Photosynthesis is a process that converts light energy to chemical energy and is unique to the
chloroplast of a plant cell. The chloroplast has both an inner and outer membrane, similar to the
mitochondria. The inner membrane contains the matrix–like stroma. Within the stroma are
disc–shaped structures called thylakoids. Thylakoids stack on top one another to from granum. This
small, structural, and highly–specialized organelle specializes in using light energy, water, and
carbon dioxide as substrates to produce sugar and oxygen.
Photosynthesis begins when photoreceptors absorb light molecules and transfer the energy to
neighboring pigments until it reaches the reaction center. The transfer of energy to neighboring
pigments is called resonance energy transfer. The photoreceptor in chloroplasts is chlorophyll and
there are two main types: chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. Chlorophyll a and b absorb different light
wavelengths of the spectrum. Light harvesting complexes that contain antennae molecules such as
chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and accessory pigments all absorb light energy and transfer it between
neighboring molecules (resonance energy transfer) until it reaches the reaction center.
Photosynthesis can be divided into two parts:...show more content...
The Calvin Cycle takes place in the stroma of chloroplasts. The first step in the Calvin Cycle is
carbon fixation. With the help of rubisco, a CO2 molecule combines with ribulose 1,5–bisphosphate
(RuBP) making a 6C molecule. The 6C compound quickly splits into two molecules of
3–phosphoglycerate. This carboxylation reaction is the rate–limiting step in the Calvin Cycle. Next,
ATP is used and NADPH is reduced to convert 3–phosphoglycerate molecules into
glyceraldehyde–3–phosphate (G3P) molecules. Finally, G3P can be recycled to regenerate RuBP or
make a hexose molecule. With the entrance of 1 CO2 molecule, 3 ATP and 2 NADPH are
consumed to make a six–carbon

Photosynthesis and Respiration
All organisms on earth depend on photosynthesis, in which light energy is used to make sugar and
other food molecules from carbon dioxide and water. For example, plants and other
photo–synthesizers need only energy from sunlight, carbon dioxide from air, and water from the soil
to make the sugar glucose. Photosynthesis is the most important chemical process on earth because
it provides food for virtually all organisms, not only for photo–synthesizers but for the organisms
that eat them. Plants can capture the energy of the sun by a chemical process called photosynthesis.
This chemical reaction can be described by the following simple equation:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2
The product of photosynthesis is a carbohydrate,...show more content...
The CO2 is converted into malic acid and then converted back to CO2 during the day when light is
present, thus producing sugars, while the stomata are closed and greatly reducing water loss. Plants
convert the energy from light into simple sugars, such as glucose. This food may be converted back
to water and carbon dioxide, releasing the stored energy through a process called respiration. This
energy is required for growth in nearly all organisms. Simple sugars are also converted to other
sugars and starches (carbohydrates) which may be transported to the stems and roots for use or
storage, or they may be used as building blocks for more complex structures, e.g. oils, pigments,
proteins, cell walls, etc. Photosynthesis is dependent on the availability of light. In other words, as
sunlight increases in intensity photosynthesis increases. This results in greater food production.
Many garden crops, such as tomatoes, respond best to maximum sunlight. Tomato production is cut
drastically as light intensities drop. Only two or three varieties of "greenhouse" tomatoes will
produce any fruit when sunlight is minimal in fall and spring. Water plays an important role in
photosynthesis in several ways. First, it maintains a plant's turgor or the firmness or fullness of plant
tissue. Turgor pressure in a cell can be compared to air in an inflated balloon. Water pressure or
turgor is needed in plant cells to maintain shape and ensure

Essay on Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis produces energy in the form of glucose it uses water from the soil, carbon dioxide
from the air, and energy from the suns light. Photosynthesis takes place in all plants that contain
chlorophyll. Photosynthesis mainly takes place in the palisade mesophyll cell in the leaves of plants.
The main reaction is to produce oxygen and glucose, glucose is stored in the form of starch and does
not affect osmosis, taking place in the plant. As plants respire both night and day this starch is often
used up during the night when photosynthesis cannot take place. The uses of glucose within the plant
are for active transpiration, cell division, the production of protein and...show more content...
The final factor, which contributes, is light. We decided to investigate how this affects the rate of
reaction also.
Method ======
We need to find out how the of presence light and the intensity contributes to the rate of
photosynthesis. To be able to measure the rate we need a visible sign that photosynthesis is taking
place. We will use Canadian pondweed. By counting these bubbles we can tell how fast oxygen is
being given off from the photosynthesis. We will place the Elodea in a beaker along with warm
water and a bit of Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate (NaHCO3). If it wasn't there then another limiting
factor may be the cause of the rate changing instead of just light.
By placing the beaker next to a lamp we can change the light intensity. The weed will be given a set
number of minutes each time to adjust to the new level of light intensity.
The rate of reaction will be in number of bubbles per minute (b.p.m).
Constant and Variable factors
The factor that will be changed is light intensity. The factors that will be kept constant are the
amount of water the weed is put in, carbon dioxide levels, lamp that is used and temperature.
I think that as the light intensity is increased the rate of photosynthesis will also increase. But the
light will reach a certain point where the rate will not increase any

Photosynthesis
Name __________________________________________________ Date ___________________
Class ____________
Photosynthesis Virtual Labs
Tutorial: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/science_up_close/512/deploy/interface.html
Watch and listen to the tutorial found in the link above. Fill in the following answers as you watch.
Stop and replay anything you don't understand – this is a complicated topic! food 1. Plants use
photosynthesis to make __________________ for the plant.
2. What do plants need in order to perform photosynthesis?
Plants need light ( usually from the sun) in order to perform photosynthesis. 3. How is the plant able
to obtain each "ingredient?"
The plant obtains each ingredient from the air through open...show more content...
Based on your data, draw a conclusion regarding how light intensity affects the rate of
photosynthesis.
The shorter the distance of the light to the sample the manier the bubbles are produced each minute.
The longer the distance of the light to the sample the lesser the bubbles are produced each minute.
It means that the higher the light intensity the rate of photosynthesis is increasing, the lower the
light intensity the rate of photosynthesis is decreasing.
Virtual Lab #2 – http://www.kscience.co.uk/animations/photolab.swf
In this lab, you will be experimenting with how different variables affect the rate of photosynthesis.
9. Set the thermometer to 25В°C (Room Temperature) and the light intensity to 20.
a. What were the bubbles per minute at this setting? ______ bpm
32
b. Now increase the CO2 available to the elodea. What were your bubbles per minute? ______ bpm
48
c. Based on your data, how does the amount of available CO2 affect the rate of photosynthesis?
The amount of available Carbon Dioxide increased the rate of photosynthesis.
10. Keep your settings from 9c (25В°C, light intensity of 20, increased CO2).
48
a. What were the bubbles per minute at this setting? ______ bpm
40
b. Now increase the temperature to 40В°C. What were your bubbles per minute? ______ bpm
c. Based on your data, how does an increase in temperature affect the rate of photosynthesis?
It decreased or slowed the rate of

Photosynthesis Essay
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the most important part of the lively hood of humans and animals.
Without photosynthesis we would not be able to receive energy. We should be more appreciate of
plants, without them we would not survive. This paper will explain the basic components require for
photosynthesis, the role of chlorophyll, how energy is transferred, and photosystems I and II and the
most precious product results of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is a reproductive system that occurs in plants. The main components required for
photosynthesizing are sunlight, energy, water and mineral from soil, and carbondioxide from the air.
Once these components are combined they...show more content...
One could say that it is the house where photosynthesize occur. The chlorophyll never changes from
its original form nor is combined when photosynthesis occurs.
Plants absorb energy from the sunlight whether on land or in the water. The energy is transferred to
humans and some animals that eat plants. Some animals are not able to eat plants so they eat other
animals who has energy stored up in them. Humans also receive a source of energy from animals
that we eat. What is quite amazing is that maggots receive energy from animals that have been dead
for a long period of time.
Photosynthesis has a two–stage performance before plants produce the two products they are known
to produce. These stages are Photosystem I and II. Photosystem II is dependant on light reactions for
energy which causes the electrons to be react and be transferred to Photosystem II. The electrons are
transported through the Photosystem II electron transport system, however some energy is used to
drive ATP synthesis. Meanwhile, light is being absorbed by the Photosystem I, which causes the
electrons to react. This process sends the electrons to the Photosystem I transport system where
some energy is released as electrons travel through the electron transport system and is captured as
NADPH. When this process is completed oxygen is released from the plant and glucose has been

Photosynthesis Lab Essay
My hypothesis was correct. To measure the amount of carbon dioxide or CO2 in an exhaled
breath, you need to use BTB solution and sodium hydroxide. In our procedure, the BTB reacted to
the carbon dioxide and the sodium hydroxide reverses the reaction which allowed us to measure
how much carbon dioxide is in our exhaled breath. As seen in the data, it took 5 drops of sodium
hydroxide to get the BTB solution that had carbon dioxide blew into it to be the same color of the
controlled BTB solution.
This experiment a had some limitations. One limitation was that Iman wasn't seated when she blew
air into the plastic bag. This could've changed our results. There might have been more or less
carbon dioxide in the bag, which would lead to putting

Essay on Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a biochemical process in which plant, algae, and some bacteria harness the energy
of light to produce food. Nearly all living things depend on energy produced from photosynthesis for
their nourishment, making it vital to life on Earth. It is also responsible for producing the oxygen
that makes up a large portion of the EarthВЎВ¦s atmosphere. Factors that affect photosynthesis are
light intensity and wave length, carbon dioxide concentration, and temperature.
Plants are autotrophs that mean they are able to synthesize food directly from inorganic compounds,
instead of relying on other organisms. They use carbon dioxide gas and water to produce sugars and
oxygen...show more content...
The surface of the leaf is uniformly coated with a water–resistant waxy cuticle that protects the leaf
from excessive absorption of light and evaporation of water. The transparent, colourless epidermis
layer allows light to pass through to the mesophyll cells where most of the photosynthesis takes
place.
To metabolic pathways involved in photosynthesis are light reaction and dark reaction. The first
stage of the photosynthetic system is the light–dependent reaction, which converts solar energy into
chemical energy. Light absorbed by chlorophyll or other photosynthetic pigments is used to drive
a transfer of electrons and hydrogen from water to and acceptor called NADP , reducing it to the
form of NADPH by adding a pair of electrons and a single proton. The water or some other donor
molecule is split in the process. The light reaction also generates ADP, a process called
photophosphorylation. ATP is a versatile source of chemical energy used in most biological
processes. The light reaction produces no carbohydrates such as sugars.
In photosynthesis, the dark reactions are chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and other
compounds into glucose. These reactions unlike light–dependent reactions do not need light to
occur. These reactions take the products of the light–dependent reactions and perform further
chemical processes on

Photosynthesis : The Chemical Energy
Photosynthesis is the process in which plants, a select number of prokaryotes, and algae use solar
energy and convert it into chemical energy. (Swarthout, 2010)The chemical energy is generally
stored as glucose. Photosynthesis most notably occurs in the leaves of plants, more specifically, in
the chloroplast. The Calvin Cycle and light reactions are two stages that occur in photosynthesis. In
the light reactions, the solar energy is stored in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast,
which then create ATP and NADPH. In the Calvin Cycle or dark reaction, chemical energy that is
in the ATP and NADPH is utilized in order to convert CO2 into glucose. In both C3 and C4 plants,
Rubisco, an enzyme, transforms CO2 which is used later on to create organic compounds such as
glucose. (Marshall et al 2016) Carbon dioxide is used directly and as a result photorespiration
occurs. This makes the photosynthesis of these plants less efficient. In C4 plants, a different pathway
is used and produces carbohydrates more efficiently. (Marshall et al 2016)
In this study, we utilized Spinacea oleracea (spinach) and Zea Mays(corn) and sought to measure the
photosynthetic ability of plants and their reactions under light and dark conditions. The purpose of
this experiment was to measure gas exchange and respiration in plants as well as identifying the
differences under dark and light conditions throughout the trials. My hypothesis was that the light
reaction trials in C4 plants would have the most

Lab Report On Photosynthesis
Introduction:
Photosynthesis is the process in which plants take in carbon dioxide, water, and sun energy into
their chloroplasts to create energy and sugar storage. Inside of the chloroplast, the thylakoids take
in light and water, using the light energy to take separate the hydrogen and oxygens and creating
H+ ions. The electrons are given to ADP and NADP+ changing them to ATP and NADPH which are
then transferred over to the calvin cycle while the oxygen from the water is transferred outside of
the chloroplast. The calvin cycle then uses carbon dioxide, ATP, and NADPH to create starch for
storage, amino acids, and sucrose.
In this lab, plants were experimented with in a way to test the rate at which photosynthesis occurs.
Around ten chads were cut out of a leaf for each experiment. They were then put in a syringe with
a solution of water, a drop of soap, and baking soda and vacuumed so as to take any air out of the
plants. The plants were then placed in a cup of water and left in sunlight or under a specific plant
light, timed for how long it took for them to synthesize enough oxygen to float back to the surface.
The results given from the experiment are shown below.
Hypothesis: Spinach under the photosynthesis specific light will photosynthesize and float faster
than either the random Arizona plant in normal sunlight or the spinach in normal sunlight.
Prediction: If Spinach is placed under a photosynthesis specific light, then it will photosynthesize and
float much

The Process of Photosynthesis Essay
The Process of Photosynthesis
Missing Images
Plants are one of the many wonders of the world. They are considered autotrophs; they do not rely
on outside sources for their food. They create their own food by the process of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is when green plants and certain other organisms use light energy to change carbon
dioxide and water into the glucose. In so doing, photosynthesis provides the basic energy source for
almost all organisms. An extremely important byproduct of photosynthesis is oxygen, on which most
organisms depend. Photosynthesis occurs in green plants, seaweeds, algae, and some bacteria. These
organisms are virtual sugar factories, producing millions of new glucose molecules per second.
...show more content...
These fossil fuels, including natural gas, coal, and petroleum, are composed of a complex mix of
hydrocarbons, the remains of organisms that relied on photosynthesis millions of years ago [3].
Therefore, almost all life on earth, directly or indirectly, depends on photosynthesis as a source of
food, energy, and oxygen, making it one of the most important biochemical processes known. Plant
photosynthesis occurs in leaves and green stems within cell structures called chloroplasts (Figure 4
& 5). One plant leaf is composed of tens of thousands of cells, and each cell contains 40 to 50
chloroplasts. The chloroplast, an oval–shaped structure, is divided by membranes into numerous
disk–shaped compartments. These disklike compartments, called thylakoids, are arranged
vertically in the chloroplast like a stack of plates or pancakes [4]. A stack of thylakoids is called a
granum. The grana lie suspended in a fluid known as stroma [3] (Figure 6). Embedded in the
membranes of the thylakoids are hundreds of molecules of chlorophyll (Figure 7), a light–trapping
pigment required for photosynthesis. Additional light–trapping pigments, enzymes, and other
molecules needed for photosynthesis are also located within the thylakoid membranes [4]. The
pigments and enzymes are arranged in two types of units, Photosystem I and Photosystem II (Figure
8). Because a chloroplast may have dozens of thylakoids, and each thylakoid may contain thousands
of

Photosynthesis Essay example
Photosynthesis
Green plants are producers. This means that they can survive without animals! They can make lots
of organic chemicals from a few simple inorganic chemicals. They need simple things like carbon
dioxide and water and can make complex things like sugar, starch, fat, and proteins.
Plants get their nutrients from the environment. Carbon dioxide comes from the air (unless they are
aquatic plants, in which case they get it from the water surrounding them). They get water from the
soil. They also need other inorganic nutrients like nitrate, sulphate and phosphate. A few plants
cannot get nitrate out of the soil so they have to eat animals to get the nitrogen which they must have
for...show more content...
In photosynthesis, light energy is converted into chemical energy. When animals and plants respire,
the chemical energy in glucose can be converted into other forms of energy e.g. kinetic energy.
Plants can make enough glucose on a sunny day to last them through the night and through lots of
cloudy dark days, but they cannot store up lots of glucose. What they do is convert the extra
glucose into starch. When they need to use the energy, they can turn the starch back into glucose.
Starch can be stored in leaves or other parts of the plant. they can turn glucose into sucrose: this is a
sugar carried around the plant in special tubes called phloem.
Photosynthesis results in an increase in biomass; i.e. there is more carbohydrate in the plant. They
can turn some of the glucose into fat or protein. They have to make lots of different chemicals to
grow, but the two most important ones are fats and proteins. To do this they need energy (growth
requires energy from glucose). Plants also have to make a very special chemical called DNA: this
is the hereditary chemical of all animals and plants. They must also make lots of new chlorophyll.
Like carbohydrates, fats also contain three elements:
В· Carbon
В· Hydrogen
В· Oxygen
Proteins contain four or five elements:
В· Carbon
В· Hydrogen

В· Oxygen
В·

Lab Report on Photosynthesis Essay
Lab Report: Understanding Photosynthesis
Gen Biology Lab
Abstract: This lab was called photosynthesis: understanding photosynthesis. It is a highly complex
process that needs to be broken down in many steps to understand how it works. This lab covers the
big components in photosynthesis including carbon dioxide intake, light consumption, and varying
pigmentation.
Introduction:
Photosynthesis is a huge concept to learn and understand in the field of biology. Plants have their
own special way of using the ATP they produce. Photosynthesis is a process where plants harness the
sunlight they receive and they produce carbohydrates, as well as oxygen for living things and other
plants. Now the sunlight ultimately powers the process of...show more content...
First we obtained a leaf from our instructor. Then we sketched the leaf and labeled the blade and
petiole. The following procedure dealt with a chromatogram. The materials needed are: a pencil,
safety goggles, scissors, chromatography paper strip, capillary tube, spinach plant pigment
extract, test tube, cork stopper, graduated cylinder, chromatography solvent (alternative isopropyl
alcohol), metric ruler, stopwatch or clock with a secondhand, hook/fashioned paperclip, paper
towels, test tube rack, and mortar and pestle. First we obtained a strip of chromatography paper
and cut it so it would fit inside a test tube (with it barely touching the bottom of the tube). Also,
when touching the strip, touch the sides only. Then we attached (firmly) the top of the strip to a
hook (or fashioned paperclip at bottom of the cork stopper). Make sure it fits in the test tube.
Next we used the pencil to draw a faint line across the strip two centimeters from the bottom tip of
the strip. We placed the cork and strip in place, and we put a mark on the test tube one centimeter
below the top of the stopper. The next step was to place the strip of chromatography paper on a
paper towel. Then dip a capillary tube into the plant pigment extract (spinach pigment extract)
provided by the teacher. The tube will fill on its own. We applied the extract to the pencil line on
the paper, blew the strip dry, and repeated it three to four times until the line on the paper is a dark

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