Write Out The General Summary Equation For Photosynthesis

Write Out The General Summary Equation For Photosynthesis2 Name

Write out the general summary equation for photosynthesis. Name the by-products from photosynthesis. Give another name for the light reaction. Give another name for the dark reaction. Identify the functions for the following molecules: RuBP, NADP, Chlorophyll a, and Chlorophyll b. What is the name of the plant organelle that chlorophyll can be found in? What are the raw materials needed for photosynthesis? What is the principal product made from photosynthesis? What are the names of the layers that compose the mesophyll? During photosynthesis, what bands of the light spectrum are absorbed by plants? During photosynthesis, what bands of the light spectrum are reflected by plants? What are the characteristics of Photosystem II? What are characteristics of Photosystem I? What are the major components in the C4 pathway summary? What are the major components in the C3 pathway summary?

Paper For Above instruction

Photosynthesis is a vital biological process by which green plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose molecules. The general equation for photosynthesis can be summarized as follows:

6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6 O₂

This reaction signifies that six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water, using light energy captured by chlorophyll, are converted into one molecule of glucose and six molecules of oxygen. The by-products of this process are oxygen, which is released into the atmosphere, and glucose, which serves as an energy source for the plant and other organisms.

Another common name for the light reaction is the "photochemical reaction" or "light-dependent reactions," whereas the dark reaction is also referred to as the "Calvin cycle" or "light-independent reactions."

The molecules involved in photosynthesis serve crucial functions. RuBP (ribulose bisphosphate) is a five-carbon sugar that captures CO₂ during the Calvin cycle, facilitating carbon fixation. NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) acts as an electron carrier, accepting electrons during the light reactions to form NADPH, which is essential for the Calvin cycle's synthesis processes. Chlorophyll a, the primary pigment, absorbs light mainly in the blue-violet and red wavelengths, directly participating in light absorption for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll b extends the range of light absorption by capturing additional wavelengths, mainly in the blue and red-orange regions, and transfers this energy to chlorophyll a.

Chlorophyll molecules are located within the chloroplasts, specifically embedded in the thylakoid membranes. The chloroplast is a specialized organelle in plant cells responsible for photosynthesis.

The raw materials needed for photosynthesis include carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and water (H₂O) absorbed by roots. Light energy, captured by pigments within chlorophyll, drives the process.

The principal product of photosynthesis is glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆), an energy-rich carbohydrate that sustains the plant and provides energy for metabolic activities in other organisms through food chains.

The mesophyll layer of the leaf is primarily composed of two types of cells: the palisade mesophyll and spongy mesophyll. The palisade layer, located just beneath the upper epidermis, is rich in chloroplasts and is the primary site of photosynthesis. The spongy mesophyll, located below the palisade layer, contains air spaces that facilitate gas exchange.

During photosynthesis, plants predominantly absorb light in the blue (around 430–470 nm) and red (around 640–680 nm) bands of the light spectrum, which are optimal for chlorophyll absorption. Conversely, plants reflect green light (about 500–550 nm), which is why they appear green to our eyes.

Photosystem II has several characteristic features: it absorbs light primarily at 680 nm, initiates the water-splitting process to generate electrons, and contributes to the formation of a proton motive force that drives ATP synthesis. Photosystem I absorbs light at around 700 nm and facilitates the production of NADPH by transferring electrons to NADP+.

The C4 pathway is an alternative photosynthetic pathway adapted by some plants to minimize photorespiration, especially in high-temperature environments. Its major components include the initial fixation of CO₂ into a four-carbon compound (such as oxaloacetate), which is transported to bundle-sheath cells where CO₂ is released for the Calvin cycle. This separation allows for more efficient photosynthesis under specific conditions.

The C3 pathway, also known as the Calvin cycle, involves the direct fixation of CO₂ into a three-carbon sugar, 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA), with RuBP as the acceptor molecule. This pathway is common amongst most plants and occurs in the chloroplasts, where the enzyme RuBisCO catalyzes the carboxylation of RuBP. The Calvin cycle involves carbon fixation, reduction, and regeneration, producing glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) which forms glucose and other carbohydrates.

References

• Blankenship, R. E. (2014). Molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis. Wiley.
• Mitchell, D., & Volkmann, G. (2016). Photosynthesis and plant biology. Academic Press.
• Nelson, D. L., & Cox, M. M. (2017). Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (7th ed.). W.H. Freeman & Co.
• Taiz, L., & Zeiger, E. (2010). Plant Physiology (5th ed.). Sinauer Associates.
• Raven, P. H., Evert, R. F., & Curtis, P. S. (2005). Biology of Plants (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
• Farquhar, G. D., & Richards, R. A. (1984). Isoprene and photosynthesis. Plant Physiology, 74(5), 1159-1160.
• Howard, R. J. (2005). The blue-green algae: Cyanobacteria. Academic Press.
• Walker, J. C. (1994). Photosynthesis. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
• Boyd, R. S., & Clay, J. (2017). Ecology and Management of C4 Plants. Journal of Experimental Botany, 68(10), 2295-2297.
• Gamon, J. A., et al. (1992). Vegetation spectral reflectance and photosynthesis: at the heart of remote sensing for terrestrial plant biochemistry and physiology. Remote Sensing of Environment, 42(2), 103-124.