Photosynthesis: Study Guide Photosynthesis Equation: 6CO2 + 6H2O - C6H12O6 + 6O2

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Study guide Photosynthesis equation:

6CO2 + 6H2O -------------> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Where: CO2 = carbon dioxide, H2O = water Where: C6H12O6 = glucose; O2 = oxygen
Light dependent reactions Require water, light and carbon dioxide CO2 enters the plant through the
stomata
Plant absorbs photons from the sun using the pigment “chlorophyll” Inside the chloroplasts there are
things called thylakoids, which have the lumen inside the structure and the stroma outside the structure It all
starts in photosystem II Photons strike the chlorophyll and excite the electrons in the chlorophyll Missing an
electron, the chlorophyll will split a H20 molecule and steal its electron. It leaves the Hydrogen inside the
thylakoid, floating around, while the oxygen exits the membrane.
One of the electrons breaks away from the chlorophyll and immediately hops onto a special thing called
an electron transport protein. The transport protein then transports the electron to the second protein complex,
the Cytochrome complex. The cytochrome complex uses some of the energy from the electron to pump more
hydrogen protons into the thylakoid. The hydrogen protons, now inside the thylakoid, are brought into the ATP
synthase. The ATP synthase packs the Hydrogen proton onto the ADP making ATP the original electron, now
completing its journey, is moved into PSI where it is reenergized by a photon. The Re-energized electron then
moves into the NADP+ Reductase where all of its energy is used to make NADPH out of 2 electrons and 1
hydrogen ion along with NADP+ The NADPH, along with the ATP’s, then moves into the second leg of
photosynthesis, the light independent reactions, called the Calvin cycle.
Light independent reactions the first part occurs in the stroma and is called carbon
fixation. It is called this because this is where a CO2 molecule binds with a Molecule of Ribulose Bisphosphate.
This is done by an enzyme called rubisco. Rubisco, which was originally designed to harvest inorganic carbon
from the atmosphere and then convert it to organic carbon, is actually not very good at its job. The RuBisCo
would accidentally bind the Ribulose bisphosphate with oxygen more than half of the time, creating a toxic by
product. When the rubisco works correctly, it will slam a CO2 molecule into ribulose bisphosphate, which will
then become incredibly unstable. The only way to keep the new molecule stable is to split it in half, making 2
molecules of Phosphoglycerate. This whole process must be done to 3 molecules of RUBP. In stage 2, the
Phosphoglycerate needs more energy so some ATP sums by and adds a phosphate group, and then some
NADPH adds some electrons. This process creates 2 molecules of G3P. G3P, the final product of
photosynthesis can then be easily converted to many different molecules, the most important of which is
glucose. However, the plant needs 5 of these G3P’s to replenish the electrons lost and to replenish the original 3
RUBPs. This last phase is called regeneration.
Key Terms
Term Meaning
The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy to
Photosynthesis chemical energy in the form of sugars
Photoautotrop
h An organism that produces its own food using light energy (like plants)
ATP Adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy carrier in living things
Chloroplast The plant cell structure where photosynthesis occurs
Thylakoids Disc-like structures within a chloroplast that help absorb light
Grana Stacks of thylakoids in a chloroplast
A pigment found in the thylakoid that absorbs light energy and uses it to
Chlorophyll produce carbohydrates
Stroma Fluid-filled space surrounding the grana
Photosynthesis reaction
During photosynthesis, photoautotrophs use energy from the sun, along with
carbon dioxide and water, to form glucose and oxygen
The overall equation for photosynthesis is:
6CO2 + 6H2O -------------> C6H12O6 + 6O2
● Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are almost opposite processes.
Looking at their equations, they differ only in the form of energy that is being
absorbed or released. However, they are not simply the reversal of each other, as
each one takes place in its own particular series of steps.
● Plants are green because chlorophyll reflects green light. Many people think
that chlorophyll is green because it wants to absorb and use green light. However,
this is not true. The color we see is actually the color of light that is being reflected.
Therefore, chlorophyll reflects green light, while absorbing red and blue light.
The stages of photosynthesis
There are two main stages of photosynthesis: the light-dependent reactions and

the Calvin cycle.
Requires
Stage Location Events sunlight?
Light-dependent Thylakoid Light energy is captured by
reactions membrane chloroplasts and stored as ATP Yes
ATP is used to create sugars that
Calvin cycle Stroma the plant will use to grow and live No

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PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Study guide Photosynthesis equation:

● Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are almost opposite processes.

The stages of photosynthesis

There are two main stages of photosynthesis: the light-dependent reactions and

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