In multicellular autotrophs, the main cellular structures that allow photosynthesis to take place include chloroplasts, thylakoids, and chlorophyll. Key Points
Key Terms
Overview of PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis is a multi-step process that requires sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water as substrates. It produces oxygen and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P or GA3P), simple carbohydrate molecules that are high in energy and can subsequently be converted into glucose, sucrose, or other sugar molecules. These sugar molecules contain covalent bonds that store energy. Organisms break down these molecules to release energy for use in cellular work. Figure: Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis uses solar energy, carbon dioxide, and water to produce energy-storing carbohydrates. Oxygen is generated as a waste product of photosynthesis.The energy from sunlight drives the reaction of carbon dioxide and water molecules to produce sugar and oxygen, as seen in the chemical equation for photosynthesis. Though the equation looks simple, it is carried out through many complex steps. Before learning the details of how photoautotrophs convert light energy into chemical energy, it is important to become familiar with the structures involved. Photosynthesis and the LeafIn plants, photosynthesis generally takes place in leaves, which consist of several layers of cells. The process of photosynthesis occurs in a middle layer called the mesophyll. The gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen occurs through small, regulated openings called stomata (singular: stoma ), which also play a role in the plant’s regulation of water balance. The stomata are typically located on the underside of the leaf, which minimizes water loss. Each stoma is flanked by guard cells that regulate the opening and closing of the stomata by swelling or shrinking in response to osmotic changes. Photosynthesis within the ChloroplastIn all autotrophic eukaryotes, photosynthesis takes place inside an organelle called a chloroplast. For plants, chloroplast-containing cells exist in the mesophyll. Chloroplasts have a double membrane envelope composed of an outer membrane and an inner membrane. Within the double membrane are stacked, disc-shaped structures called thylakoids. Embedded in the thylakoid membrane is chlorophyll, a pigment that absorbs certain portions of the visible spectrum and captures energy from sunlight. Chlorophyll gives plants their green color and is responsible for the initial interaction between light and plant material, as well as numerous proteins that make up the electron transport chain. The thylakoid membrane encloses an internal space called the thylakoid lumen. A stack of thylakoids is called a granum, and the liquid-filled space surrounding the granum is the stroma or “bed.” Figure: Structure of the Chloroplast: Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts, which have an outer membrane and an inner membrane. Stacks of thylakoids called grana form a third membrane layer.What process is C6H12O6 6O2 → 6CO2 6H2O energy?So, the correct option is 'Respiration'.
What does C6H12O6 6O2 → 6CO2 6H2O mean?oxidation reaction is : C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O. Yields 2755 kJ/mole of glucose. The reverse of this reaction – combing carbon dioxide and water to make sugar – is known as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process responsible for storing all the energy we extract from fossil fuels, crops, and all of our food.
What process does the equation C6H12O6?During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen. Glucose is a large molecule with 6 carbon molecules (C6H12O6), therefore the smallest number of carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules required to make one molecule of glucose is 6!
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