Review sheet – Chapter 7

















Understand that photosynthesis is the process by which organisms synthesize (produce) organic
compounds (glucose) from CO2 and water, using the energy of the sun (solar energy, light
energy)
Understand that photosynthesis produces O2 as a by-product
Know that plants, some protists and cyanobacteria participate in photosynthesis
Understand that photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts (organelle) of cells
Know that chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, a light-absorbing pigment which captures the sun’s
energy and gives autotrophs their distinctive green color
Understand that a chloroplast contains two membranes and consists of the stroma, the thick
fluid filling the inner compartment of the chloroplast, and thylakoids, a series of membranous
sacs containing pigment molecules (including chlorophyll) that capture light energy and enables
photosynthesis
Understand that pigments absorb certain wavelengths of light; we do not see the absorbed
wavelengths, only the reflected ones
Know that photosynthesizers produce O2 by splitting a molecule of water
Understand that photosynthesis is divided into 2 stages: light-dependent and light-independent
reactions
o Light-dependent reactions convert light energy into chemical energy, and produce O2
(from the splitting ofwater); light-dependent reactions occur in the thylakoid
membranes and convert NADP+ to NADPH
o Light-independent reactions produce glucose molecules using CO2 and the energy-rich
products of the light reactions (NADPH and ATP); light-independent reactions involve
the Calvin Cycle and occur in the stroma of chloroplasts
Know that the incorporation of carbon from CO2 into organic compounds (glucose) is referred to
as carbon fixation
Understand that water is split producing O2 in the light-dependent reactions occurring in the
thylakoid membranes (where the pigments are)
Understand that CO2 is fixed into glucose in the light-independent reactions occurring in the
stroma (no glucose is made in light-dependent reactions)
Know that a photosystem are found in the thylakoid membrane and consist of chlorophyll
molecules organized into clusters (with other pigments and proteins)
Know that there are 2 photosystems: Photosystem II and Photosystem I – understand that light
is first absorbed by pigments in photosystem II and then electrons (and energy) is passed along
to Photosystem I
Understand that photosynthesis does not occur exclusive to cellular respiration, but it does
supply the necessary ingredients for cellular respiration to occur (glucose and O2)
Know that CO2 is an important greenhouse gas
Be able to describe the greenhouse effect and how increasing CO2 levels contribute to global
warming