Ions & Organisms
Plants are producers in the ecosystem. Plants photosynthesise Carbon
dioxide and Water to produce energy in the form of glucose and other
carbohydrates, oxygen and other molecules. Photosynthesis requires
water, and plants gain water from the soil using mineral ions such as
nitrates which are produced by the nitrifying bacteria. The hydrolysis of
ATP releases energy for the processes required such as the active
transport of nitrate ions from the soil into the root hair cells. This process
lowers water potential and is used to move water into the plant from the
soil. In the leaves, photosynthesis involves the photolysis of water, a
process which involves two electrons attaching to a magnesium ion in the
chlorophyll and the production of hydrogen ions from the breakdown of
water. These hydrogen ions are used to reduce NADP in the light-
dependant reaction which occurs in the thylakoid. The hydrogen ions and
electrons are used to reduce 3-phosphoglycerate to form triose phosphate
and glucose. H+ ions are also used in the production of ATP in the Electron
Transport Chain. They are pumped into the intermembrane space which
generates an electrochemical gradient that provides energy for the
activation of ATPase which combines ADP and inorganic phosphate ions to
form ATP.
Glucose along with other molecules produced by plants, are used in
animals for their life processes. The glucose undergoes respiration in body
cells in three different stages, each of which involves inorganic ions. In
hydrolysis, ATP releases energy and a phosphate ion which can be used to
phosphorylate glucose in the cell cytoplasm during its glycolysis. The
phosphorylation causes the glucose to be more reactive and prevents it
from leaving the cell. After hydrogen ions have joined coenzymes such as
NAD, the pyruvate formed enters the mitochondrion and is decarboxylated
and oxidised, which transfers its hydrogen ions and electrons to NAD and
FAD. These hydrogen ions are then pumped into the inter-membrane
spaces of the cristae and are used to create an electrochemical gradient to
form ATP as part of oxidative phosphorylation.
Plants are producers in the ecosystem. Plants photosynthesise Carbon
dioxide and Water to produce energy in the form of glucose and other
carbohydrates, oxygen and other molecules. Photosynthesis requires
water, and plants gain water from the soil using mineral ions such as
nitrates which are produced by the nitrifying bacteria. The hydrolysis of
ATP releases energy for the processes required such as the active
transport of nitrate ions from the soil into the root hair cells. This process
lowers water potential and is used to move water into the plant from the
soil. In the leaves, photosynthesis involves the photolysis of water, a
process which involves two electrons attaching to a magnesium ion in the
chlorophyll and the production of hydrogen ions from the breakdown of
water. These hydrogen ions are used to reduce NADP in the light-
dependant reaction which occurs in the thylakoid. The hydrogen ions and
electrons are used to reduce 3-phosphoglycerate to form triose phosphate
and glucose. H+ ions are also used in the production of ATP in the Electron
Transport Chain. They are pumped into the intermembrane space which
generates an electrochemical gradient that provides energy for the
activation of ATPase which combines ADP and inorganic phosphate ions to
form ATP.
Glucose along with other molecules produced by plants, are used in
animals for their life processes. The glucose undergoes respiration in body
cells in three different stages, each of which involves inorganic ions. In
hydrolysis, ATP releases energy and a phosphate ion which can be used to
phosphorylate glucose in the cell cytoplasm during its glycolysis. The
phosphorylation causes the glucose to be more reactive and prevents it
from leaving the cell. After hydrogen ions have joined coenzymes such as
NAD, the pyruvate formed enters the mitochondrion and is decarboxylated
and oxidised, which transfers its hydrogen ions and electrons to NAD and
FAD. These hydrogen ions are then pumped into the inter-membrane
spaces of the cristae and are used to create an electrochemical gradient to
form ATP as part of oxidative phosphorylation.
