Raw Materials for Photosynthesis:

Sunlight

Chlorophyll: Sunlight absorbed by chloroplast

CO2: Enters through stomata, and oxygen (O2) is released as a byproduct through stomata on the leaf.

Water: Water + dissolved minerals like nitrogen, phosphorous etc., are taken up by the roots from the
soil.

How do raw materials for photosynthesis become available to the plant?

Water comes from the soil, through the xylem tissue in roots and stems.

Carbon dioxide comes in the leaves through stomata.

Main Events of Photosynthesis:

Light reaction and Dark reaction

Light Reaction:It happens in grana of Chloroplast.

A. Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll.At first light is absorbed by peripheral chlorophyll molecules,
then it is gradually passed to the reaction centre.

B. The hydrogen, released by the splitting of a water molecule is called photolysis of water.

C. Production of ATP which is called photophosphorylation.

D. Production of reduced NADP

Dark Reaction:It happens in stroma of Chloroplast. Here

Conversion of light energy

into chemical energy occurs.

Reduction of CO2 to carbohydrates with the help of hydrogen formed by the photolysis of water.

Q. What is Destarching of leaf? Why is it done?

Ans-Destarching means removing all the stored food i.e. starch from a plant.Before carrying out any
photosynthesis practical it is necessary to destarch the plant by placing it in the dark for at least 48
hours. During this time any starch will be removed or used.

it is not done, we won't get accurate result.

Q.What is variegated leaf?

Ans-A leaf that possesses more than one color is called a variegated leaf. It shows the presence of
different color pigments like red, brown, yellow, violet in addition to green pigment chlorophyll. e.g-
Croton

Q. Why do we boil the leaf in alcohol when we are testing it for starch?

When a leaf is boiled in alcohol like ethanol, it helps to extract chlorophyll and help remove the green
color of the leaves. After the removal of chlorophyll, the color of the leaf changes to white, and it is easy
to observe the change in the color of iodine as starch gives a blue color to iodine.

Q. Why are the leaves boiled in water?

To test a leaf for starch, the leaf is boiled in water to to kill the cells.It makes the cell soft.

Q. How does the use of KOH help to show that carbon dioxide is released during respiration in the
germinating seed respiration experiment ? Priestley’s experiment
Ans-Potassium hydroxide is used in the experiment for the absorption of CO2 from the plant released
during respiration. When KOH absorbs CO2, it creates a vacuum in the flask. The air present in the bent
glass tube moves into the conical flask. This pulls the water in the bent tube further up.

Q. What is used to test the presence of starch?

Ans-We can test for starch with the help of an iodine test.It is brown in colour. If it turns blue-black, it
indicates presence of starch.

Q. What is stomata? How is stomatal opening and closing regulated?

Ans-Stomata are tiny openings or pores in plant tissue that allow for gas exchange. Stomata are typically
found in plant leaves but can also be found in some stems. Specialized cells known as guard cells
surround stomata and function to open and close stomatal pores.

The opening and closing of stomata depend on the turgor pressure, caused by the osmotic flow of water
in the guard cells. When the guard cells are turgid, they expand resulting in the opening of stomata.
When the guard cells lose water, they become flaccid leading to stomatal closure. In guard cell,
chloroplast produces glucose. So, it increase osmotic pressure. Due to endoosmosis, guard cell becomes
turgid and is opened. During night glucose is not produced. So guard cells become flaccid and cause
closing.