3.5 Photosynthesis Flashcards

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ADP (adenosine diphosphate)

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ADP is an organic compound that plays a crucial role in metabolism. It's converted to ATP for storage of energy during cell metabolism.

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ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

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ATP is a high-energy molecule that stores and provides energy for many biochemical reactions in the cell.

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ATP synthase

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ATP synthase is an enzyme that creates the energy storage molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It uses a proton gradient to power this process.

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C₆H₁₂O₆

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C₆H₁₂O₆ represents a molecule of glucose, which is a simple sugar that organisms use as an energy source.

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Calvin Cycle

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The Calvin Cycle is a set of chemical reactions that take place in chloroplasts during photosynthesis. It uses the energy from light to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

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Carbon Fixation

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Carbon fixation is the process by which inorganic carbon (usually in the form of carbon dioxide) is converted to organic compounds by living organisms, primarily through photosynthesis in plants.

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Cellulose

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Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate, or polysaccharide, that is composed of glucose units and forms the main component of plant cell walls.

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Chlorophyll

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Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria that absorbs light energy (specifically blue and red wavelengths) to carry out photosynthesis.

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Chloroplast

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Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells and eukaryotic algae that conduct photosynthesis, where the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll captures the energy from sunlight, converts it, and stores it in the energy-storage molecules ATP and NADPH while freeing oxygen from water.

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CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide)

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Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration. It's absorbed by plants in photosynthesis.