CHAPTER 6

NUTRITION

6.11 THE
MECHANISM
OF
PHOTOSYNTHESIS

The Parts of Chloroplast

in relation to
Photosynthesis

1. During photosynthesis, carbon

dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) form
new bonds, generating glucose
(C6H12O6) and releasing oxygen
using light energy which is absorb
by chloroplast in the green parts of
plants.

2. Photosynthesis occur in chloroplasts

of palisade mesophyll, spongy
mesophyll and guard cell.

Chloroplast
The chloroplast has double membrane
The cytoplasm of the chloroplast is
called stroma
The dark reaction of photosynthesis takes
place in the stroma
Chloroplasts contain membranous
structures which are piled in stacks called
grana (*singular: granum)

 Grana contain the light tapping pigment

chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the most
abundant photosynthetic pigment in
plants.
Grana are embedded in a gel-like matrix
called stroma.

Structure of the chloroplast

The light reaction and dark

reaction of photosynthesis

Light Reaction

During the light reaction, chlorophyll

absorb light energy which excites the
electrons from the chlorophyll
molecules.
In the excited state, the electrons leave
the chlorophyll molecules. The energy
from the excited electrons is transformed
to chemical energy and used to form
high energy molecules of adenosine
triphosphate (ATP), which is required for
the dark reaction.

 The light energy trapped by the chlorophyll is

used to split water molecules into hydrogen
ions (H+) and hydroxyl ions (OH). This
reaction is known as photolysis of water.
Each hydrogen ion then combines with an
electron released by the chlorophyll to form
hydrogen atom. The hydrogen atom will
become a reducing agent for the dark
reaction.

light

24H2O

chlorophyll

water
molecules

24H+ + 24OH
hydrogen
ions

hydroxyl
ions

24H+ + 24e

24H

hydrogen
ions

hydrogen
atoms

 Each hydroxyl ion releases its electron to

the chlorophyll to form a hydroxyl group.
This maintains the neutrality of the
chlorophyll.
The hydroxyl groups then combine to form
water and oxygen. Some of the oxygen is
used by the plant for aerobic respiration,
but most of its is released into the
atmosphere.

24OH

24OH + 24e

hydroxyl
ions

hydroxyl
group

24OH

12H2O + 6O2

hydroxyl
groups

water

(given back to
chlorophyll)

oxygen (release
to the air)

 Therefore, the light reaction is an energycapturing reaction responsible for the

production of chemical energy in the form
of ATP and reducing agents in the form of
hydrogen atoms required for the dark
reaction.

Dark Reaction
The dark reaction also known as light
independent reaction. It takes place in the
stroma of the chloroplast which is rich in
enzymes.
In the presence of ATP, carbon dioxide
absorbed into the leaf will combine with
the hydrogen atoms from the light reaction
to form glucose.

6CO2 + 24H
carbon
dioxide

hydrogen
atoms

6(CH2O)

6(CH2O)+ 6HO
glucose

C6H12O6

water

 (CH2O) is the basic unit of glucose. Six

units of (CH2O) will combine to form a
molecule of glucose.
The reaction between the light reaction of
photosynthesis is shown in the figure.

Light Reaction
(granum)

chlorophyll
Hydrogen ions

Water molecules

Oxygen diffuses
out of the leaf

--------------------------------------------------------Hydrogen
Carbon dioxide
Dark Reaction
atoms,
diffuses into
(stroma)
ATP
the leaf

Glucose

 Glucose produced during photosynthesis will be

converted immediately to starch to be stored
temporarily in the leaf cells or may be transformed
into sucrose to be transported to other parts of the
plant. Some glucose will be also used in the
synthesis of cellulose for the cell wall.
Some of the simple sugars produced can also be
converted to amino acids and fatty acids to be
used in protein synthesis and fat synthesis
respectively.

A schematic diagram of the light reaction and dark

reaction in photosynthesis.
Light reaction

24H2O
24H+

24OH

Chlorophyll
24H

24e

24e
24OH
12H2O

Dark reaction

6O2

6H2O
6CO2
6(CH2O)

Starch

C6H12O6

Sucrose

Amino acids

Fatty acids

Chemical equation of
photosynthesis
light

6H2O + 6CO2 chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6O2

Water

carbon
dioxide

glucose

oxygen

Comparison between light

reaction and dark reaction in
photosynthesis

Aspect

Light reaction Dark reaction

Site of reaction

Grana

Stroma

Light energy

Required

Not required

Substances required

Water

Carbon dioxide

Products of reaction

Oxygen and
water

Glucose and
water

Photolysis of water

Occurs

Does not occur

Involvement of
enzymes

Some enzyme
involved

More enzymes
involved

Prepared by,

Group 6