PHOTOSYNTHESIS BY B.

GUTUZA
-PHOTOSYNTHESIS IS THE PROCESS WHEREBY GREEN PLANT
MAKE FOOD USING CARBON DIOXIDE AND WATER IN THE
PRESENCE OF SUNLIGHT.
THINGS THAT PLANTS NEED FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
CARBON DIOXIDE
WATER
LIGHT (A SOURCE OF ENERGY)
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT PLANTS MAKE BY
PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
GLUCOSE
OXYGEN
HERE IS THE WORD EQUATION FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
CARBON DIOXIDE + WATER GLUCOSE + OXYGEN

Photosynthesis takes place inside plant cells in small objects

called chloroplasts. Chloroplasts contain a green substance called
chlorophyll. This absorbs the light energy needed to make
photosynthesis happen. Plants and algae can only carry out
photosynthesis in the light.
Plants get carbon dioxide from the air through their leaves, and
water from the ground through their roots. Light energy comes
from the Sun
Features of leaves
Adaption
Thin

Purpose
Short distance for carbon dioxide to diffuse into leaf cells

Chlorophyll
Absorbs sunlight to transfer energy into chemicals
Network of veins To support the leaf and transport water and carbohydrates
Stomata
Allow carbon dioxide to diffuse into the leaf

The internal structure of the leaf is also adapted to promote efficient

photosynthesis:

Structure of leaves
Adaption
Purpose
Epidermis is thin and
To allow more light to reach the palisade cells
transparent
Thin cuticle made of wax To protect the leaf without blocking out light
Palisade cell layer at top of
To absorb more light
leaf
Air spaces allow carbon dioxide to diffuse through the
Spongy layer
leaf, and increase the surface area
Palisade cells contain many
To absorb all the available light
chloroplasts

Factors limiting photosynthesis

Three factors can limit the speed of photosynthesis - light intensity, carbon dioxide
concentration and temperature.

Light intensity
Without enough light, a plant cannot photosynthesise very quickly, even if
there is plenty of water and carbon dioxide. Increasing the light intensity
will boost the speed of photosynthesis.


Carbon dioxide concentration
Sometimes photosynthesis is limited by the concentration of carbon dioxide
in the air. Even if there is plenty of light, a plant cannot photosynthesise if
there is insufficient carbon dioxide.

Temperature
If it gets too cold, the rate of photosynthesis will decrease. Plants cannot
photosynthesise if it gets too hot.
If you plot the rate of photosynthesis against the levels of these three limiting
factors, you get graphs like the ones above.

Storage and use of glucose

The glucose produced in photosynthesis may be used in various ways by plants and
algae.
Storage
Glucose is needed by cells for respiration. However, it is not produced at night
when it is too dark for photosynthesis to happen. Plants and algae store glucose as
insoluble products. These include:
Starch
Fats and oils
Use
Some glucose is used for respiration to release energy. Some is used to produce:
Cellulose - which strengthens the cell wall
Proteins - such as enzymes and chlorophyll

Photosynthesis experiments
Test for starch
1. heat a plant leaf in boiling water for 30 seconds (this stops its chemical
reactions)
2. heat it in boiling ethanol for a few minutes (this removes most of its colour)
3. wash with water and spread onto a white tile
4. add iodine solution from a dropping pipette
After a few minutes, the parts of the leaf that contain starch turn blue-black.

To prove light is essential put a black covering on the leaf for 3-4
hrs then test for starch
To prove CO2 is necessary use a black foil to cover a part of the
leaf then test for starch after time
To prove chlorophyll use a variagetaed leaf