Biol 1020 Ch. 10: Photosynthesis Final
Exam Questions Fully Solved 2025-
2026 Updated.
photosynthesis - Answer - process that converts solar energy into chemical energy
- directly or indirectly nourishes almost the entire living world
- maintains the oxygen concentration in Earth's atmosphere, enabling aerobic respiration
autotrophs - Answer - organisms that sustain themselves without eating anything derived
from other organisms
- the producers of the biosphere
- producing organic molecules from CO2 and other inorganic molecules
photoautotrophs - Answer - using the energy of sunlight to make organic molecules
- almost all plants are these
heterotrophs - Answer - organisms that obtain organic material from other organisms
- consumers of the biosphere
- depend on photoautotrophs for food and O2
chloroplasts - Answer - structurally similar to and likely evolved from photosynthetic bacteria
- structural organization of these organelles allow for the chemical reactions of photosynthesis
mesophyll - Answer - the interior tissue of leaves
- where chloroplasts are mostly found
- each cell has 30-40 chloroplasts
stomata - Answer - microscopic pores where CO2 enters and O2 exits the leaf
Photosynthesis Equation (summary) - Answer 6CO2 + 12H2O + light energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2
+ 6H2O
, - incorporating the e- of hydrogen into sugar molecules and releasing oxygen as a by-product
- oxygen from CO2 and H from water form more water
- this is why water is on both sides of the reaction
Redox and Photosynthesis - Answer - photosynthesis reverses the direction of e- flow
compared to respiration
- H2O is oxidized and CO2 is reduced
- photosynthesis is endergonic - energy is provided by light
2 Stages of Photosynthesis - Answer 1.) The Light Reactions
- in the thylakoids
- split H2O
- Release O2
- reduce the e- acceptor NADP+ to NADPH
- generate ATP from ADP by phtophosphorylation
2.) Calvin Cycle
- in the stroma
- forms sugar from CO2 using ATP and NADPH
- begins with carbon fixation - incorporating CO2 into organic molecules
The Light Reactions - Answer - solar energy converted to chemical energy ATP and NADPH
- takes place in thylakoids
Nature of Sunlight - Answer - electromagnetic energy/radiation
- travels in waves
- also behaves like discrete particles (photons)
- wavelength = distance between crests of waves
- wavelength determines the type of electromagnetic energy
electromagnetic spectrum - Answer the entire range of electromagnetic energy/radiation
Exam Questions Fully Solved 2025-
2026 Updated.
photosynthesis - Answer - process that converts solar energy into chemical energy
- directly or indirectly nourishes almost the entire living world
- maintains the oxygen concentration in Earth's atmosphere, enabling aerobic respiration
autotrophs - Answer - organisms that sustain themselves without eating anything derived
from other organisms
- the producers of the biosphere
- producing organic molecules from CO2 and other inorganic molecules
photoautotrophs - Answer - using the energy of sunlight to make organic molecules
- almost all plants are these
heterotrophs - Answer - organisms that obtain organic material from other organisms
- consumers of the biosphere
- depend on photoautotrophs for food and O2
chloroplasts - Answer - structurally similar to and likely evolved from photosynthetic bacteria
- structural organization of these organelles allow for the chemical reactions of photosynthesis
mesophyll - Answer - the interior tissue of leaves
- where chloroplasts are mostly found
- each cell has 30-40 chloroplasts
stomata - Answer - microscopic pores where CO2 enters and O2 exits the leaf
Photosynthesis Equation (summary) - Answer 6CO2 + 12H2O + light energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2
+ 6H2O
, - incorporating the e- of hydrogen into sugar molecules and releasing oxygen as a by-product
- oxygen from CO2 and H from water form more water
- this is why water is on both sides of the reaction
Redox and Photosynthesis - Answer - photosynthesis reverses the direction of e- flow
compared to respiration
- H2O is oxidized and CO2 is reduced
- photosynthesis is endergonic - energy is provided by light
2 Stages of Photosynthesis - Answer 1.) The Light Reactions
- in the thylakoids
- split H2O
- Release O2
- reduce the e- acceptor NADP+ to NADPH
- generate ATP from ADP by phtophosphorylation
2.) Calvin Cycle
- in the stroma
- forms sugar from CO2 using ATP and NADPH
- begins with carbon fixation - incorporating CO2 into organic molecules
The Light Reactions - Answer - solar energy converted to chemical energy ATP and NADPH
- takes place in thylakoids
Nature of Sunlight - Answer - electromagnetic energy/radiation
- travels in waves
- also behaves like discrete particles (photons)
- wavelength = distance between crests of waves
- wavelength determines the type of electromagnetic energy
electromagnetic spectrum - Answer the entire range of electromagnetic energy/radiation
