The first input required is the photons that are collected by the chlorophyll, this electron is absorbed by an electron and enter a state of excitation. The electron leaves the molecule and its transferred into an electron carrier. To replace the missing electron, an input of H2O is required. This compound is then split, which results in the formation of oxygen that is liberated from the organism and hydrogen ions in the thylakoid space. The excited electron then is transferred into some protein complexes in the thylakoid membrane; the electron transport chain moves the electron trough those complexes to make those electrons lose their energy, transferring by mobile electron carrier. The Electron carrier moves to the Cytochrome complex, which pumps another proton into the thylakoid. The Hydrogen ions and protons in the thylakoid now push through an enzyme called ATP Synthase. The enzyme uses that energy to pack ADP, making ATP in the process. Phases of the Light-Independent reactions Fixation: First, the CO2 collected by the stomata and taken to the stroma is fixed with RuBP by an enzyme called RUBisCo. This forms a 6-carbon compound that is unstable, and it's immediately converted into two three-carbon compounds (3-GPA). Reduction: ATP and NADPH gives their stored energy to convert the 3-GPA into G3P, G3P Regeneration: Because the RuBP needed to begin the process has five carbon, the Calvin Cycle must be done six times, during this process, six G3P are generated, and five of them are used to regenerate the original three RuBP, nine molecules of ATP and six molecules of NADPH are also needed.
2) For each phase, what is the output (or what is produced)?
Phases of the Light-dependent reactions During the first phase, the output of the photon absorption is the oxygen, which liberates when the H2O molecule is split to replace the missing electron. This also leaves the hydrogen ions into the thylakoid. ATP is created when the hydrogen pushes into the ATP Synthase enzyme. In the meantime, the electron carrier passes its electron into the Photosystem I, the energy from the electron is used to create NADPH from NADPH+ and a Hydrogen Ion. Phases of the Light-Independent reactions The principal output of the Calvin cycle it's the G3P, which is the result of splitting the RuBP and CO2 into 3-GPA and adding the energy from ATP and NADPH. A single G3P is generated when the Calvin Cycle has been passed six times. G3P is used to create mainly glucose and other carbohydrates.
3) Why does the light-dependent phase require light?
Because a photon is required to start the process of photosynthesis, light is the source of photons that have been available for the organisms to exist.
4) In the light-independent phase, what does "carbon fixation" mean?
Fixation occurs when CO2 molecule binds with a Molecule of RuBP, which means that the carbon in their molecules is "Fixed" from inorganic into organic molecules.