Green plants and other organisms perform photosynthesis, the process by which solar energy is converted into chemical energy and stored in organic molecules. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight are used to produce glucose and oxygen. The two main stages are the light reaction phase, where light energy is absorbed and used to produce ATP and NADPH, and the Calvin cycle, where carbon dioxide is incorporated into organic compounds to form glucose. Chloroplasts in plant leaves contain chlorophyll which absorbs sunlight to drive photosynthesis, producing oxygen as a byproduct and fueling the biosynthesis of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that sustain life on Earth.

1. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
(PROCESS OF FOOD
PRODUCTION BY PLANTS)

2. WHAT IS PHOTOSYNTHESIS
The process that occurs in green plants, whereby solar energy is
converted into chemical energy and stored as organic molecules by
making use of carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water. Water and Oxygen
are formed as byproducts.
Photosynthesis
can be summarized in the following equation:
6 CO2 + 12 H2O + Light energy
C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O
(glucose)

3. WHY DO PLANTS PHOTOSYNTHESIZE
To
provide nutrients and oxygen for heterotrophs.
Heterotrophs
are dependent on autotrophs, because
they cannot produce there own food.

4. WHO OR WHAT CAN PHOTOSYNTHESIZE
Photoautotrophs
can photosynthesize.
Include:
Green plants, algae, Plants
cyanobacteria and green protists.
Green, protists ,Algae , Cyanobacteria

5. WHAT PART OF THE PLANT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Photosynthesis
The
occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
chloroplasts are mainly concentrated in the mesophyll cells of leaves.
Chloroplast
contain chlorophyll – green pigment that absorbs sunlight.
Chlorophyll
fill the space in the thylakoid membrane.

7. Chloroplast
Outer
membrane
Thylakoid
Stroma
Granum
Thylakoid
space
Intermembrane
space
Inner
membrane
1 µm

8. RAW MATERIALS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
•
The raw materials of photosynthesis
are:
 water,
carbon dioxide and
sunlight.

9. HOW RAW MATERIALS REACH THE
CHLOROPLASTS
Water is absorbed through the root hair into the
xylem of the roots, into the xylem of the
stem, through the xylem of the leaves into the
mesophyll cells and finally into the chloroplasts

10. Carbon dioxide diffuses from the atmosphere through the
stomata, into the intercellular airspaces in the leaves, and finally
into the chloroplasts of the mesophyll cells.
The chlorophyll and other pigments in the thylakoid membrane
absorb the solar energy to drive photosynthesis

11. PHOTOSYNTHESIS CONSIST OF 2
STAGES:
LIGHT REACTION PHASE (Dependent on light)
DARK PHASE/ CALVIN CYCLE
(Light independent)

12. LIGHT REACTION PHASE
Takes
place in the thylakoids of the chloroplasts.
Chlorophyll
absorbs solar energy from the sun.
When
a chlorophyll pigment absorbs light (photon of energy), it excites the
electrons, which goes from ground state to an excited state, which is unstable,
but can be used as potential energy.
When
unused excited e- fall back to the ground state, photons and heat are
given off

14.  THE ELECTRONS ARE EXCITED IN THE
PHOTOSYSTEMS FOUNT IN THE THYLAKOID
MEMBRANE.
THIS POTENTIAL ENERGY IS THEN USED FIRSTLY TO SPLIT
WATER – INTO HYDROGEN & OXYGEN.
2H2O
2H2 + O2
OXYGEN IS RELEASED AS A BYPRODUCT – DIFFUSE
THROUGH STOMATA INTO ATMOSPHERE.
THE HYDROGEN REDUCES NADP+ TO NADPH
SOME ENERGY IS THEN USED TO
PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATE ADP TO GENERATE ATP.
ADP + P
ATP

16. CALVIN CYCLE

Carbon dioxide diffuses through the stomata of the leave and finally
into the stroma of the chloroplast.

The carbon dioxide is accepted by a 5C molecule called ribulose
biphosphate (RuBP) which then forms an unstable 6C compound.

6C compound dissociates into 2 x 3C compounds called
phosphoglycerate (PGA)

17. PGA is then reduced to phosphoglyceraldehyde (PGAL/ G3P) by
accepting a phosphate from ATP and a hydrogen electron from NADPH.
Thus changing ATP back to ADP and NADPH to NADP.
PGAL are now used for the following reactions:
Some PGAL are used to make RuBP again, so that the cycle can start over
again.
Some PGAL are used to form hexose sugars like glucose and fructose.
Which combine to form disaccharides and polysaccharides.
* The carbohydrates can then be converted to other biological compounds
like proteins or fats by adding mineral salts like nitrates and phoshates

19. THE NATURE OF SUNLIGHT
Light
is a form of energy = ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY/
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
The
electromagnetic energy travel in waves.
Distance
between crests of electromagnetic waves =
WAVELENGTH
Wavelength
range from ≤ 1nm (gamma rays) –
≥ 1 km (radio waves)
The
entire range of radiation wavelengths =
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

20. ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

22. THE MOST IMPORTANT PART FOR LIFE IS THE VISIBLE LIGHT
(380NM – 750NM)
WE CAN SEE THIS LIGHT AS VARIOUS COLOURS.
LIGHT CONSIST OF PARTICLES = PHOTONS
PHOTONS HAVE ENERGY- THE SHORTER THE WAVE
LENGTH THE GREATER THE ENERGY OF THE PHOTON.
THEREFORE VIOLET LIGHT HAS MORE ENERGY THAN RED
LIGHT.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS ARE DRIVEN BY VISIBLE LIGHT OF THE
SUN.

23. MAIN PIGMENTS USED DURING
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Chlorophyll
a – Absorb violet, blue and red light. Reflects and transmits
green light (that is why plant leaves appear green)
Chlorophyll
b – Absorb violet, blue and red light. Reflects and transmits
green light (that is why plant leaves appear green).
Carotenoids
– Play an accessory role in photosynthesis. They are shades
of yellow and orange and able to absorb light in the violet-blue-green
range. These pigments become noticeable in the fall when chlorophyll
breaks down.

24. HOW A PHOTOSYSTEM HARVESTS
LIGHT
The
thylakoid membrane of a chroloplast contains several
photosystems.
A
photosystem consist of a protein complex called a reactioncentre complex surrounded by several light harvesting
complexes.
Study
the diagram to understand the process of light
harvesting.

26. THE IMPORTANCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS: A
REVIEW
Energy
entering chloroplasts as sunlight gets stored as chemical energy
in organic compounds
Sugar
made in the chloroplasts supplies chemical energy and carbon
skeletons to synthesize the organic molecules of cells.
Plants
store excess sugar as starch in structures such as
roots, tubers, seeds, and fruits
In
addition to food production, photosynthesis produces the O2 in our
atmosphere

27. REFERENCE LIST
by paprescott on Jan 29, 2012
http://www.slideshare.net/paprescott/photosynthesis11319148?qid=1a1425fb-13e9-4dfd-a314e81b54002af5&v=default&b=&from_search=4
by Rachel Hill, Sales Assistant at Affleck Sports on Jun 08, 2012
http://www.slideshare.net/RachelHill94/photosynthesis-presentation-byme