Photosynthesisan overview
8.2
Key Questions
1. What role do pigments play in the process of
photosynthesis?
2. What are electron carrier molecules?
3. What are the reactants and products of
photosynthesis?
The energy that drives photosynthesis
• Comes from sunlight.
What are the
different
wavelengths of
sunlight?
ROY G BIV
How does sunlight get absorbed by a
plant leaf?
• Plant cells have chloroplasts.
• Inside the chloroplasts are different pigments.
• We are interested in chlorophyll
How many membranes does
the chloroplast have?
The chloroplast
How does light energy get received
and passed on?
• Electrons in the plant pigments receive the
energy from sunlight.
• These electrons are picked up by special
molecules (NADP+) and transferred to areas of
the chlorophyll where they can do work.
Which molecule has more energy – NADP+ or NADPH?
Summary of the process of
photosynthesis