Photosynthesis Key Terms

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Photosynthesis

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The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

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Chloroplast

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An organelle found in the cells of green plants and photosynthetic algae where photosynthesis takes place.

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Chlorophyll

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A green pigment found in the chloroplasts of plants, algae, and some bacteria, essential for photosynthesis.

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Light-dependent reactions

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The series of biochemical reactions in photosynthesis that require light energy, captured by chlorophyll, to produce ATP and NADPH.

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Calvin Cycle

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A set of light-independent chemical reactions in photosynthesis that take place in chloroplasts, where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose.

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Glucose

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A simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms and a component of many carbohydrates.

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ATP

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Adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that carries energy within cells.

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Chemical energy

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Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, released in a chemical reaction.

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Carbon fixation

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The process of converting inorganic CO2 into organic compounds during photosynthesis.