What molecule is used to capture sunlight energy and
where is this molecule located?
Chlorophyll is a light-absorbing molecule located
inside the chloroplasts of plants, the membraneorganelle where photosynthesis occurs.
Why are carbohydrates preferred for use in cellular
respiration?
Carbohydrates are superior because they are simpler
to metabolize (break down for energy) than fats or
proteins, which makes sense considering that glucose
is a monosaccharide carbohydrate and the
fundamental sugar produced in photosynthesis and
used in cellular respiration.
What are three factors that affect the rate at which
photosynthesis occurs?
Describe how you do not get energy directly from the
food you eat.
Light wavelength, amount of carbon dioxide present and
temperature of the environment.
Food is not directly used for energy, but is broken
down to make ATP, which provides the energy for all
cellular reactions.
What is the role of NAD+ in fermentation?
How do the two photosystems work together to
capture energy from sunlight?
NAD+ picks up electrons and allows ATP production to
continue.
Photosystem II absorbs energy and energizes
electrons. The electrons are passed along to
photosystem I, which absorbs more energy and adds it
to the electrons.
Explain how the Calvin Cycle is a bridge between
carbon in the atmosphere and carbon-based molecules in
the food you eat.
Explain the relationship between the light-dependent
and light-independent reactions of photosynthesis.
Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by
plants for photosynthesis. The carbon is incorporated
into sugars and other carbon-based molecules that are
eaten by other organisms.
The light-dependent reactions absorb energy from
sunlight and transfer the energy to the lightindependent reactions that produce sugars.
Summarize the aerobic stages of cellular respiration. Be
sure to discuss the Krebs Cycle and the ETC.
What is pyruvate and what is the role of pyruvate in
cellular respiration?
Products of glycolysis are broken down by the Krebs
Cycle to make energy-carrying molecules and carbon
dioxide. Energy from the Krebs Cycle is used by the
ETC to make ATP.
Pyruvate , a 3-carbon molecule produced by the
breakdown of glucose, is needed for the Krebs Cycle,
which is part of cellular respiration.
Explain the roles of electrons, hydrogen ions, and
oxygen in the ETC.
Describe the similarities and differences between the
Krebs Cycle and the Calvin Cycle.
The ETC pumps hydrogen ions across the inner
mitochondrial membrane. Hydrogen ions then flow
through a channel that is bound to ATP synthase.
Oxygen picks up electrons and hydrogen ions so that the
ETC can continue to function.
Both occur in the interior spaces of their respective
organelles, and both are cycles of chemical reactions.
The Calvin Cycle builds larger carbon-based
molecules in chloroplasts to store energy. The Krebs
cycle breaks down carbon-based molecules in the
mitochondria to release energy.