Photosynthesis!

AIMS:
•To confidently describe light-dependent and independent reactions
•The structure and functioning of chloroplasts
•Limiting factors
 Photosynthesis
• 6CO₂+ 6H₂O  C₆H₁₂O₆
• The splitting of water into hydrogen and
oxygen requires energy, can you think of what
form of energy this is?

That’s right... SUNLIGHT!

•This process is known as the photolysis of water.

 Light-Dependent Reactions
Primary electron
acceptor Primary electron
acceptor

2e⁻

2e⁻
 Calvin Cycle
6CO₂

6RuBP (5C) 12GP (3C)

6ADP 12 Reduced
NADP 12ATP

6ATP 12NADP
10GALP 12ADP + 12P

12GALP (3C)

Glucose (6C)
 Structure and Functioning of
Chloroplasts

Stores the product of

photosynthesis

Contains all enzymes

Needed to carry out
light-independent
reactions

Thylakoid space is fluid within the

Thylakoid membrane sacs, contains
Enzymes for photolysis
 Limiting Factors
Light energy
reaching leaf
surface
50% energy not absorbed by
5% reflected chlorophyll but used in
evaporating water from leaves

40% energy absorbed by

chlorophyll in the chloroplast

5% transmitted straight through leaf

 Limiting Factors
The law of limiting factors states that when a process is affected by more than one
factor, it’s rate is limited by the factor furthest from its optimum value. So
photosynthesis can be limited by temperature in cool conditions, and light by
overcast conditions. In the UK during the summer, the main limiting factor is carbon
dioxide concentration.

The rate at which energy is

transferred into the organic
molecules that make up the
new plant biomass is called
net primary productivity
(NPP)
 Plenary
• In a grassland community there is 2 x 10⁹kJ m⁻²y⁻¹ of
sunlight energy which reaches the plant, and GPP is
25 x 10⁶kJ m⁻²y⁻¹. Calculate the efficiency of
photosynthesis.
• What would the limiting factor be for trees of a
tropical rainforest at noon?