Topic 2.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Topic Outline AUDIO

 Photosynthesis

 Light Spectrum

 Chlorophyll

 Chromatography

 Action & Absorption Spectra

 Photosynthetic Stages

 Limiting Factors

Photosynthesis uses the energy in sunlight to produce the chemical energy needed for life
Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which certain cells synthesise carbon compounds

(e.g. glucose) from inorganic molecules (CO2 and H2O) in the presence of sunlight
• This process requires a photosynthetic pigment (e.g. chlorophyll)
• Plant cells have a specialised organelle adapted to this function (chloroplast)

Light
6 CO2 12 H2O C6H12O6 6 O2 6 H 2O
+ + +
Carbon dioxide Water Glucose Oxygen Water
Chlorophyll

Photosynthesis is the production of carbon compounds in cells using light energy

Photosynthesis vs Cell Respiration

Photosynthetic organisms use light energy to create stored chemical energy

• The energy is stored in carbon compounds and is released by cell respiration
• Animals cannot synthesise these compounds and must consume them as food

Glucose, Oxygen

ATP

Photosynthesis Cell respiration Cellular

Light in chloroplasts in mitochondria Energy
Energy
Carbon dioxide, Water
Light Spectrum

Visible light from the sun is composed of a range of different wavelengths (colours)
• The spectrum of visible light ranges from ~400 nm (violet) to ~700 nm (red)

The colours of the visible spectrum are (from longest to shortest wavelength):

Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet

700 nm 400 nm

Visible light has a range of wavelengths with violet the shortest wavelength and red the longest
Chlorophyll

Photosynthetic pigments are used to absorb light and convert

it into chemical energy – ATP (immediate) or glucose (stored)
• The main photosynthetic pigment in plants is chlorophyll

Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most effectively

• Green light is reflected (hence the green colour of leaves)

Other accessory pigments (e.g. carotenoids) may absorb other

chlorophyll
wavelengths of light to maximise the rate of photosynthesis in chloroplasts

Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most effectively and reflects green light more than other colours
Chromatography

Chromatography is a technique used to separate pigments

• Pigments are dissolved in fluid (fluid phase)
• Fluid is passed through a static material (stationary phase)
Solvent
• Pigments move at different speeds and hence separate distance

A retardation factor can be calculated for each pigment: Pigment

distance
Distance pigment travels
• Rf value =
Distance solvent travels

Separation of photosynthetic pigments by chromatograph

 Action vs Absorption Spectra

Action spectrum shows light wavelengths

Amount of light absorbed

carotenoid used by pigments (photosynthetic rate)

chlorophyll a

Rate of Photosynthesis
chlorophyll b

400 500 600 700

Wavelength of light (nm)

Absorption spectrum shows wavelengths

400 500 600 700
absorbed by photosynthetic pigments Wavelength of light (nm)

Drawing an absorption spectrum for chlorophyll and an action spectrum for photosynthesis
Stages of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis occurs over two distinct stages:

• Light dependent reactions convert light energy into chemical energy (ATP)
• Light independent reactions use this energy to synthesize carbon compounds

Light Light Dependent Light Independent Carbon dioxide

Reactions Reactions
Water ATP
RuBP GP

NADPH
TP Organic
Oxygen Thylakoids Stroma compounds
Light Dependent Reactions

The light dependent reactions occur in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts

• Light is absorbed by chlorophyll, resulting in the production of ATP
• Light is absorbed by water, which is split to produce oxygen and hydrogen
• The ATP and hydrogen (NADPH) are used in the light independent reactions
Light energy

Water Chlorophyll Chemical energy

e–
Waste Oxygen Hydrogen NADPH ATP

Oxygen is produced in photosynthesis from the photolysis of water

Light Independent Reactions

The light independent reactions occur within the stroma of chloroplasts

• ATP and hydrogen (NADPH) are transferred to the stroma of the chloroplast
• Hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide to form complex organic molecules
• The ATP provides the energy required to power these anabolic reactions

Diffuses into chloroplast Carbon dioxide NADPH ATP

Carbon fixation Organic compounds

Energy is needed to produce carbohydrates and other carbon compounds from carbon dioxide
Limiting Factors

The law of limiting factors states that when a reaction depends on more than one
condition, the rate of reaction is limited by the factor nearest its minimum value

Photosynthesis is dependent on a number of favourable conditions, including:

• Temperature • Light intensity • CO2

concentration
The limiting
factor sets
the speed

Temperature, light intensity and CO2 concentration are possible limiting factors on photosynthetic rate
Limiting Factors: Temperature

• Photosynthesis is controlled by enzymes

(e.g. Rubisco needed for carbon fixation)

Rate of Photosynthesis
• Increasing temperature will increase the
kinetic energy of enzyme (= ⬆ collisions)
• At an optimal temperature the rate of
photosynthesis will reach a peak
• Higher temperatures will cause a decrease
Temperature (°C)
in photosynthesis as enzyme is denatured

Temperature, light intensity and CO2 concentration are possible limiting factors on photosynthetic rate
Limiting Factors: Light Intensity

• Light is absorbed by chlorophyll and used

to make ATP (light dependent reactions)

Rate of Reaction
• As intensity increases, more chlorophyll
becomes photo-activated (= ⬆ rate)
• After a certain point, the photosynthetic
rate will plateau (i.e. activity levels off)
• This is because all available chlorophyll are
Substrate Concentration
photo-activated and rate cannot increase

Temperature, light intensity and CO2 concentration are possible limiting factors on photosynthetic rate
Limiting Factors: CO2 Concentration
• Carbon dioxide is involved in the fixation of
carbon atoms to form organic molecules

Rate of Reaction
• More carbon dioxide means more carbon
compounds are made (⬆ photosynthesis)
• After a certain point, the photosynthetic
rate will plateau (i.e. activity levels off)
• This is because all the enzymes responsible
Substrate Concentration
for carbon fixation (Rubisco) are occupied

Temperature, light intensity and CO2 concentration are possible limiting factors on photosynthetic rate
Photosynthesis Experiments

The rate of photosynthesis can be measured via changes in reactants or products

Carbon Dioxide Uptake:

• Can be measured by a change in pH (CO2 dissolves in water to form carbonic acid)

Oxygen Production:
• Can be measured by gas volume change (with a syringe) or via rate of bubbling

Biomass Changes
• Can be measured by determining changes in the dry weight of a plant
Design of experiments to investigate the effects of limiting factors on photosynthesis
Topic Review

Can you do the following?

• Write a chemical equation for photosynthesis

• Describe the role of chlorophyll in plants
• Draw action and absorption spectra
• Outline the use of chromatography
• Explain the two stages of photosynthesis
• Identify different limiting factors
• List methods for measuring photosynthesis