what is autotroph?

Organisms that sustain themselves without eating anything derived from other organisms.

what is photoautotroph?

Almost all plants, that use the energy of sunlight to make organic molecules from H2O and CO2. (ex: algae)

what is Chemoautotroph?

Organisms that Harvest energy from inorganic chemicals e.g Nitrifiers (Nitrobacter) oxidize ammonia or nitrate to obtain energy.

Where does most photosynthesis occur in plants?

In the leaves

What gives leaves their green color?

Chlorophyll, a green pigment found in chloroplasts

What are stomata?

Microscopic pores in leaves that allow CO₂ to enter and O₂ to exit

Where are chloroplasts mainly found in a leaf?

In mesophyll cells

Approximately how many chloroplasts are in each mesophyll cell?

About 30–40 chloroplasts

What is the function of stomata?

Gas exchange (CO₂ enters, O₂ exits)

What are mesophyll cells?

The interior leaf cells where most photosynthesis occurs

Where is chlorophyll located in a chloroplast?

In the thylakoid membranes

What are thylakoids?

Membrane-bound sacs inside chloroplasts

What is a granum?

A stack of thylakoids

What is found in the thylakoid membrane?

Photosynthetic pigments and ATP-producing machinery

What is the function of photosynthetic pigments?

To capture light energy

What is a photosystem?

A cluster of photosynthetic pigments in the thylakoid membrane

What is the stroma?

The dense fluid-filled interior of a chloroplast

What is the function of the stroma?

It contains enzymes that assemble carbon molecules (e.g., sugars)

What is photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is the process by which autotrophic organisms use light energy to make sugar and oxygen gas from carbon dioxide and water.

What is the equation for photosynthesis?

6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2

What are the raw materials for photosynthesis?

sunlight, CO2 and water.

What happens to water during photosynthesis?

Water (H₂O) is split into hydrogen and oxygen

What happens to the hydrogen from water?

Its electrons are incorporated into sugar molecules

What gas is released when water is split?

Oxygen (O₂)

What are the reactants of photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and light energy

What are the products of photosynthesis?

Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂)

Which molecule is oxidized during photosynthesis?

Water (H₂O)

Which molecule is reduced during photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂)

In photosynthesis, what does oxidation mean?

Loss of electrons (water loses electrons)

In photosynthesis, what does reduction mean?

Gain of electrons (CO₂ gains electrons)

What provides the energy for photosynthesis?

Sunlight