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Photosynthesis Lab Report

Decent Essays

Photosynthesis

Introduction:

Photosynthesis is a process by which light energy is converted into chemical energy. Understanding energy conversions is not trivial, and this bio-coach activity is designed to enhance our understanding and retention of the content by illustrating and animating the fundamental processes involved in photosynthesis.

An Overview of Photosynthesis:

Photosynthesis converts light energy into the chemical energy of sugars and other organic compounds. This process consists of a series of chemical reactions that require carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) and store chemical energy in the form of sugar. Light energy from light drives the reactions. Oxygen (O2) is a by product of photosynthesis and is released into …show more content…

Solar radiation is composed of electromagnetic energy that travels through space in a manner analogous to the motion of waves in water. The distance between the crests of waves is called the wavelength. The shorter the wavelength, the greater the energy for each unit (photon) of electromagnetic energy. Click and drag the "slider" button on the illustration below to investigate the type of electromagnetic energy that we call "light." Remember, energy cannot be created or destroyed. When light is absorbed by a green plant, a small portion of that energy is converted into chemical energy in the process of …show more content…

The sunlight hits chloroplasts in the plant, causing an enzyme to break apart the water. Water, when broken, makes oxygen, hydrogen, and electrons. Hydrogen, along with electrons energized by light, convert NADP into NADPH which is then used in the light-independent reactions. Oxygen diffuses out of the plant as a waste product of photosynthesis and ATP is synthesized from ADP andinorganic phosphate. This all happens in the grana of chloroplasts.

Light-independent reactions:

During this reaction, sugars are built up using carbon dioxide and the products of the light-dependent reactions (ATP and NADPH) and various other chemicals found in the plant in the Calvin cycle. Therefore, the light-independent reaction cannot happen without the light-dependent reaction. Carbon dioxide diffuses into the plant and along with chemicals in the stroma of the chloroplast and ATP and NADPH, glucose is made and finally, transported around the plant by

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