GENERAL BIOLOGY 1
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
MODES OF NUTRITION
AUTOTROPHIC
Can produce their own food
Producers
HETROTROPHIC
Cannot produce their own food
Consumers
METABOLISM
Metabolism is the sum of all the chemical reactions that take place in an organism.
ANABOLISM
Build up molecules from smaller subunits
Energy is required
CATABOLISM
Break down molecules into smaller subunits
Release energy
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Is a metabolic process by which light energy (sunlight) is converted to chemical
energy (food).
It is an anabolic pathway, which means that it builds up molecules from smaller
subunits.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS CHEMICAL REACTION
REACTANT: CARBON DIOXIDE
Carbon dioxide enters the plant through small openings in the leaves called stomata.
The stomata are surrounded by guard cells, which control the opening and closing of
the stomata.
When the stomata are open, carbon dioxide can diffuse into the leaf.
REACTANT: WATER
Water passes through the xylem vessels, a type of vascular tissue in plants.
The xylem is made up of long, tube-like cells that transport water and minerals from
the roots to the leaves.
Xylem vessel transport water
Xylem direction of flow is upward
Water in the soil Root hair Stem Leaves
SUNLIGHT
Sunlight is absorbed by chloroplasts, which are small organelles found in plant cells.
Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, a green pigment that absorbs sunlight. The energy
from sunlight is used to drive photosynthesis, a process that plants use to make food
from carbon dioxide.
PRODUCT: GLUCOSE
Glucose is a type of sugar, made in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
Glucose is distributed throughout the plant after it is made in the leaves. It is
transported through the phloem vessels, a specialized tissue that carries nutrients
throughout the plant.
Phloem transport food
Phloem direction of flow is downward
Leaves Stem Root hair Soil
PRODUCT: OXYGEN
Oxygen is produced during photosynthesis by the splitting of water molecules
(photolysis).
The water molecules are split into hydrogen ions and oxygen gas.
The oxygen gas is released into the air through the stomata.
SUMMARY
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide
to produce glucose and oxygen. Water is absorbed from the soil by the roots and transported
to the leaves through the xylem vessel. Carbon dioxide is absorbed from the air through the
stomata in the leaves. Chlorophyll in the chloroplast of the leaves uses sunlight to convert
water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. The glucose is used by the plant for
energy. The glucose is transported from the site of photosynthesis to the different parts of
the plants via phloem. The oxygen which comes from the splitting of water molecules in a
process called photolysis is released into the air through the stomata.