PHOTOSYNTHESIS

OBJECTIVES:
Define the term photosynthesis (review)
Construct a balanced chemical equation for
photosynthesis (review)
State the uses of carbohydrates made during
photosynthesis (review)
Examine the mechanism of photosynthesis (Calvin cycle)
Describe the factors that affect photosynthesis and explain
their effect on the rate of photosynthesis
Explain the term limiting factor
Investigate and describe the effects of varying light
intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and temperature
on the rate of photosynthesis

KEYWORDS: photosynthesis, light intensity,

temperature, carbon dioxide, limiting factor, Calvin cycle
 Photosynthesis
Plants make their food from carbon dioxide and water in
a chemical reaction called photosynthesis.
The food made by photosynthesis is the sugar, glucose.

carbon
dioxide
(from the air) glucose
water
(from the
oxygen
soil)

Oxygen gas is also made as a by-product of photosynthesis.

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 Where does photosynthesis happen?
Plant cells in the upper surface of leaves have chloroplasts
which contain the green pigment called chlorophyll.
chlorophyl
l
carbon
dioxide
(from the air) glucose
water
(from the
oxygen
soil)
It is chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy from the
Sun, that enables plants to carry out photosynthesis.

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 Symbol equation for photosynthesis
The reaction of photosynthesis can be represented by
the following equation:
light energy
carbon
dioxide + water  glucose + oxygen
chlorophyll

What is the symbol equation for this reaction?

light energy
6 CO2 + 6 H2O  C6H12O6 + 6 O2
chlorophyll

Is this a balanced symbol equation?

How would you balance the equation?

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 For respiration or energy

Converted to sucrose

Used to make nectar and fruits

Uses of
glucose/carbohydrates Used to make cellulose or lignin used in cell walls
made during
Used to make fats and oil
photosynthesis
Stored as starch

Used to make amino acids

Used to make chlorophyll

 Why do plants need water?
Water is needed by plants for photosynthesis but this
important liquid is also used in many other ways:
● to provide dissolved minerals that
keep the plant healthy
● to transport substances around the
plant
● to keep the plant rigid and upright
● to keep the plant cool
● to allow other chemical reactions to
occur in plant cells.

What happens to a plant if it does not get enough water?

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Stages of photosynthesis (Calvin cycle)
Calvin cycle
 Classwork
1. https://wordwall.net/play/3856/945/934

2. https://wordwall.net/play/051/208/8200
 What is the rate of photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction and so has a rate.
Like many reactions, photosynthesis requires enzymes.
Is the rate of photosynthesis always the same?
Which factors do you think affect the rate of photosynthesis?

ligh carbon temperature

t dioxide

How do these factors affect the rate of photosynthesis?

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 Is chlorophyll needed for photosynthesis?
Chlorophyll cannot be removed from a plant without killing
the plant. Instead, variegated leaves can be used to show
chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis.
Variegated leaves have pale parts,
which do not contain chlorophyll.
The green parts of the leaf contain
chlorophyll and are the control.
Which areas will react with iodine?
Only the green areas of the leaf
react with the iodine and turn
blue-black. Without chlorophyll,
the pale areas have been unable
to produce starch and do not turn
blue-black.

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Investigating the effect of light on photosynthesis

A B
Investigating the effect of carbon dioxide on photosynthesis
 Does temperature affect photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is controlled by
enzymes, which usually work
best at warmer temperatures.

Does increasing the

temperature always increase
the rate of photosynthesis?
If it gets too hot (above 40 °C),
the enzymes needed for
photosynthesis begin to break
down and are destroyed or
denatured. The rate of
photosynthesis decreases or
even stops completely.

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Investigating the effect of temperature on
photosynthesis
 What is a limiting factor?
What is the ideal combination of factors for the maximum
rate of photosynthesis?
● enough light

● enough carbon dioxide

● ideal temperature (not too hot or

cold).
How does restricting one of these facts affect the rate?
If one of the factors is restricted, the rate of photosynthesis
will be below the maximum possible rate.
The restricted factor controls how quickly photosynthesis
occurs and so limits the rate. It is called the limiting factor.

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Light intensity
Carbon
dioxide
Temperat
ure
 Homework
1. https://wordwall.net/play/
29966/821/2806
(limiting factors)
2. https://wordwall.net/play/
21934/929/265
 How can you test for photosynthesis?
The presence of starch in a leaf can be used to show that
photosynthesis has taken place. After photosynthesis
occurs, the glucose is often converted to starch for storage.
Iodine is used to test for starch.
It reacts with starch and changes
colour from brown to blue-black.
The starch test can be used to
prove that photosynthesis
needs light, carbon dioxide and
chlorophyll to take place.
How would you set up an experiment to test the conditions
needed for photosynthesis?
How would you make the experiment fair and reliable?

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 PHOTOSYNTHESIS
(2)
OBJECTIVES:
 Identify and label the internal structures of the leaves
 Explain how the internal structure of a leaf is adapted for
photosynthesis
 Explain the importance and effects of nitrate ion and
magnesium ion deficiency on plant growth
 Describe the use of carbon dioxide enrichment, optimum
light, and optimum temperatures in glasshouses in
temperate and tropical countries

KEYWORDS: glasshouse, temperature, carbon dioxide,

chloroplasts, cuticle, guard cells and stomata, upper and lower
epidermis, palisade mesophyll, spongy mesophyll
Structure of a leaf
 Structure of a leaf
Parts of a leaf Function
Waxy cuticle It reduces the water lost by evaporation.
Epidermis The upper epidermis allows light to pass through.
The lower epidermis has lots of tiny holes called the stomata (these
allow gases to diffuse in and out)
Mesophyll cells Palisade mesophyll cells contain lots of chloroplasts (most
(palisade and photosynthesis occur here)
spongy) Spongy mesophyll cells have fewer chloroplasts and contain lots of air
spaces.
Veins (xylem and Xylem vessels transport water to the leaf and phloem transport sucrose
phloem) and amino acids away from the leaf.

Air spaces Allows gases to diffuse through.

Guard cells and Guard cells contain few chloroplasts and they change shape to open and
stomata close the stomata. The stomata are tiny holes that allow gases in and
out.
 Adaptations of leaves to photosynthesis

• Large surface area to absorb more light (increased

photosynthesis and gas exchange).
• Thin so gasses don’t have far distance to diffuse.
• Contain chloroplast (which contains chlorophyll to
absorb light).
• Network of veins to transport water and sugars
• Having stomata to allow gasses to diffuse in and out.
• There is a waxy layer on top to stop water being lost
from the leaf.
 Draw this table in your books
Feature of leaves How it aids photosynthesis

Broad, flat leaves

Stomata
Veins
Chloroplasts

Waxy layer

Thin
How do gases enter and leave plants?
On the underside of leaves are small holes, or pores,
called stomata. A single hole is called a stoma.
Each stoma is surrounded by two guard cells.

When guard cells gain

water, they curve outwards.
This opens the stoma,
allowing carbon dioxide in
and oxygen out.

Losing water causes the guard

cells to come closer together,
closing the stoma. This stops
the movement of gases, but
also prevents water loss.
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How do minerals affect cell formation?
Minerals form the building
blocks of vital cell components:
 nitrogen is needed to make
amino acids and proteins
 phosphorus is needed to make
DNA and cell membranes
 potassium helps enzymes
work during photosynthesis
 magnesium is needed to
make chlorophyll.
What would happen to the plant if it
was not able to get these nutrients?

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Matching minerals

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Mineral deficiencies
Plants do not grow properly and they begin to look
unhealthy if they are deprived of minerals.

If a plant does not get enough of a mineral it is said to

have a mineral deficiency.
Do all mineral deficiencies affect a plant in the same way?

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Plant conditions

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Where do minerals come from?
What are the sources of minerals in the soil?
 Rocks
The minerals in rocks are slowly
dissolved by slightly acidic rain
and washed into the soil.
 Natural fertilizers
Animal faeces and the decay
of dead plants and animals
return minerals to the soil.
 Artificial fertilizers
These contain a mixture of the
minerals needed by plants.

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 Some benefits of glasshouses
• Plants grow in places where they would
normally not grow well.
• Climate control
• Farmers can grow plants that are not in
season.
How are the conditions/limiting factors
controlled in glasshouses?
Light (The glass allows light in)
• Artificial lighting can be used when the light intensity is
low.
• Blinds can be used to keep out very strong light. They also
provide shading which lowers the temperature in tropical
countries.

Temperature (Sunlight heats up the inside of the glasshouse)

• Electric heaters are used in cold weather.
• Ventilator flaps are opened to cool the glasshouse on hot
days.
Carbon dioxide
• Carbon dioxide can be pumped into glasshouses
• Farmers can burn butane or natural gas which
provides carbon dioxide.

Water
• Farmers can use sprinklers and humidifiers to provide
enough water for plants

N:B, Glass houses have sensors that detects the changes

in limiting factors. Computers process the data from the
sensors and control the heating, ventilation and lighting.