https://www.finedininglovers.

com/recipes/side/green-salad-pomegrana
te-seeds/

1
 ATL Development: Inquiring
ATL Mastery: Accessing information to be informed

• Why does Alice need to eat her salad?

– She does not care for the taste
– She does not appreciates the color
– How can you help explain to Alice that it is very
important for her to eat her salad?

2
 ESSENTIAL IDEA:
Photosynthesis uses
sunlight energy to
produce the necessary
chemical for life

2.9 PHOTOSYNTHESIS

3
 Statement Guidance
2.9.U1 Photosynthesis is the production of carbon
compounds in cells using light energy.
2.9.U2 Visible light has a range of wavelengths with violet the
shortest wavelength and red the longest.
2.9.U3 Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most effectively Students should know that visible light
and reflects green light more than other colours. has wavelengths between 400 and 700
nanometres, but they are not expected to
recall the wavelengths of specific colours
of light.
2.9.U4 Oxygen is produced in photosynthesis from the
photolysis of water.
2.9.U5 Energy is needed to produce carbohydrates and other
carbon compounds from carbon dioxide.
2.9.U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide
concentration are possible limiting factors on the rate
of photosynthesis.
2.9.A1 Changes to the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and rock
deposition due to photosynthesis.
2.9.S1 Drawing an absorption spectrum for chlorophyll and
an action spectrum for photosynthesis.
2.9.S2 Design of experiments to investigate the effect of Water free of dissolved carbon dioxide for
limiting factors on photosynthesis. photosynthesis experiments can be
produced by boiling and cooling water.
2.9.S3 Separation of photosynthetic pigments by Paper chromatography can be used to
chromatograph. (Practical 4) separate photosynthetic pigments but thin
layer chromatography gives better results.
4
2.9 U1 Photosynthesis is the production of carbon compounds in cells using light energy

• Define photosynthesis
• State the word equation and symbol equation
for the metabolic process of photosynthesis.
• Word:
• Symbol: 6CO2 + 6H2O = C6H12O6 + 6O2

5
Overview about photosynthesis

Location in the cell:

Reaction:
Organisms:
Substrate:
Products:
Environments:

6
2.9 U1 Photosynthesis is the production of carbon compounds in cells using light energy

From Click4biology.info!
• Location in the cell: chloroplast or prokaryotic equivalent.
• Reaction: Traps light energy (photons) and converts it into
chemical energy.
• Organisms: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic
• Substrate: Inorganic CO2 and H2O
• Products: Organic compounds (sugars) and O2
• Environments: Aquatic and terrestrial environments with
light. There are even extremophiles that can photosynthesize
at some extreme latitudes and altitudes. At extreme high
temperatures we see photosynthesis in geothermal active
regions.
http://www.oup.com/us/companion.we
bsites/9780195305753/pdf/Photosynth
esis.pdf 7
2.9 U1 Photosynthesis is the production of carbon compounds in cells using light energy

So what are the glucose molecules for?

CONDENSATION!
8
 Amylose and Amylopectin

REVIEW!

http://www.majordifferences.com/2013/02/difference-between-a
mylose-and_17.html#.WdxD3Y-Cy1s
2.3.A1 Structure and function of cellulose and starch in plants and
glycogen in humans.
Amylose Amylopectin
chain of α-glucose molecules Chain of α-glucose molecules
300-3,000 glucose units 2,000-200,000 glucose units
REVIEW!
(larger than amylose)
Un-branched Branched
Helix-shaped Globular-shaped

• Starch is only made by plant cells.

• Both types of starch are hydrophilic but are too large to be soluble in water.
• Starch does not affect the osmotic balance of cells, i.e. cause too much water to
enter them
• It is easy to add or remove extra glucose molecules to starch
• Therefore starch is useful in cells for glucose, and consequently energy, storage.
• In seeds and storage organs such as potato cells glucose held as starch.
• Starch is made as a temporary store in leaf cells through photosynthesis and then
it can be exported to other parts of the plant.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/caroslines/5534432762/
2.9 U1 Photosynthesis is the production of carbon compounds in cells using light energy

11
2.9 U1 Photosynthesis is the production of carbon compounds in cells using light energy

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0078617022/16415
5/00053412.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uixA8ZXx0KU

12
2.9 U2 Visible light has a range of wavelengths with violet the shortest wavelength and
red the longest.

Define visible light.

Wavelengths that are visible to

human eyes.

State the range of wavelengths

that fall within the visible
spectrum.

From about 400 to 700 nm

State the relationship between
wavelength and energy.

Inversely proportional; as
wavelength increases, energy
decreases
13
2.9 U2 Visible light has a range of wavelengths with violet the shortest wavelength and
red the longest.

14
Explain why do plants with chloroplast appear
green?

How do you know it is green?

15
2.9 U3 Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most effectively and reflects
green light more than other colours.

16
2.9 U3 Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most effectively and reflects
green light more than other colours.

spectrophotometer

17
Explain why do plants with chloroplast
appear green?
• Chlorophyll is the main photosynthetic
pigment
• Blue and red wavelength is absorbed by the
chloroplast;
• Energy from these are used for photosynthesis
• Green wavelength is reflected;
• This wavelength is received and perceived by
us as green.
18
 Distinguish between an action spectrum
and an absorption spectrum.
• The absorption spectrum indicates
the wavelengths of light absorbed by each
pigment (e.g. chlorophyll)
• The action spectrum indicates the overall rate
of photosynthesis at each wavelength of light

19
In the space below, draw (and label) a graph showing the action and
absorption spectra for chlorophyll.

20
2.9 S1 Drawing an absorption spectrum for chlorophyll and an action spectrum for photosynthesis.

21
 Absorption spectrum for
chlorophyll and the action • Both display two main peaks – a larger peak at
spectrum the blue region (~450 nm) and a smaller peak at
the red region (~670 nm) 
• Both display a trough in the green / yellow portion
of the visible spectra (~550 nm)

22
23
 2.9 U3 Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most effectively and reflects green light more than other colours.
2.9 S1 Drawing an absorption spectrum for chlorophyll and an action spectrum for photosynthesis.

https://www.box.com/shared/cs6jvzv8n4

https://www.box.com/shared/gbjqt3aihb
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/biolink/j_explorations/ch09expl.htm

24
2.9 U3 Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most effectively and reflects green light more than other colours.
2.9 S1 Drawing an absorption spectrum for chlorophyll and an action spectrum for photosynthesis.

25
2.9 U4 Oxygen is produced in photosynthesis from the photolysis of water.
2.9 U5 Energy is needed to produce carbohydrates and other carbon compounds from carbon
dioxide.

Chemical Energy!

26
 Outline how light energy is used and how
organic molecules are made in photosynthesis.

27
28
29
Outline how light energy is used and how organic
molecules are made in photosynthesis. (6)

chlorophyll is the (main) photosynthetic pigment;

absorbs (mainly) red and blue light;

green light is reflected;

light energy absorbed is converted into chemical energy/NADPH.

ATP produced from;

Photolysis of water;
to form oxygen and hydrogen;

ATP and hydrogen used to fix carbon dioxide to make organic

molecules;

30
2.9 S2 Design of experiments to investigate the effect of limiting factors on
photosynthesis.

31
 Methods that can be used to measure the rate of photosynthesis:

1) Measure production of oxygen.

because oxygen is a by-product of photosynthesis!
Example of technique for measuring oxygen production: count
bubbles, the use sensors

2) Measure uptake of carbon dioxide.

because carbon dioxide is used during photosynthesis;
Example of technique for measuring carbon dioxide production:
The use of sensor, or aquatic pH shift.

3) Measure biomass of (batches of) plants.

increase in biomass gives (indirect) measure of rate of photosynthesis.

32
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on
the rate of photosynthesis.

What do you think the graph will look like?

33
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on
the rate of photosynthesis.

34
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on
the rate of photosynthesis.

• Amount of CO2
– ↑ [carbon dioxide ] =
– ↑ Rate at which carbon is
fixed into glucose
in the light-independent
reaction
- Rate of photosynthesis
generally increases until
limited by another factor.
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on
the rate of photosynthesis.

Amount of LIGHT
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on
the rate of photosynthesis.

37
 Factors that limit photosynthesis:
• Amount of light
– As light intensity increases, the rate of the light-dependent
reaction, and therefore photosynthesis generally, increases
proportionately.
– Used for photolysis of water
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on
the rate of photosynthesis.

What do you think the graph will look like?

39
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on
the rate of photosynthesis.

Temperature
– At low temperatures – enzymes have too
little of energy slow rate of
photosynthesis
– As the temperature ↑ (increases), the
enzymes get more energy so the rate of
photosynthesis ↑(increases).
– If Temperature gets too high (hot) the
enzymes begin to denature. They lost their
biological properties and the decreases
rate of photosynthesis.
– At higher temperatures the stomata close
to prevent water loss, this also stops gas
exchange which slows photosynthesis
even further.
 Factors that limit photosynthesis:
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting
factors on the rate of photosynthesis.

• Amount of water
– Plants shut stomata
to avoid loosing
water
Any other factor that
– However, shutting
can limit
the stomata will also
photosynthesis?
deprive the plant of
CO2
Explain methods by which the rate of photosynthesis
can be measured, including conditions that affect the
rate [9]

42
Explain methods by which the rate of photosynthesis
can be measured, including conditions that affect the
rate [9]
measuring oxygen release;
measuring volume / counting rising oxygen bubbles / counting
rising disks;
measuring carbon dioxide intake/uptake;
CO2 can be measured by change in pH / increase in pH shows
an increase in CO2 fixation;
increase in biomass would be an indirect measure of
photosynthesis / measure of net photosynthesis;
measure starch production / dry organic mass;
increasing temperature would increase the rate of photosynthesis;
provided the temperature did not go above optimum temperature
of enzymes;
increasing carbon dioxide concentration would increase the rate
of photosynthesis;
higher light intensity would increase the rate of photosynthesis;
light of different wavelengths / blue and red light can affect
photosynthesis / green wavelength usually not absorbed;
example of a detailed experiment;
(e.g. drawing or explanation of waterweed under funnel and
tube collecting bubbles of oxygen) 9 max 43
2.9 A1. Changes to the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and rock deposition due to
photosynthesis

http://www.nap.edu/openbook/0309063647
/xhtml/images/img00004.jpg
44
2.9 A1. Changes to the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and rock deposition due to
photosynthesis

Atmosphere
• For the first 2 billion years after the Earth was formed, its
atmosphere was anoxic (oxygen-free) and only consisting of
ammonia, water vapor and CO2. (back to Topic 1.5!)
• Prokaryotes (Cyanobacteria– a photosynthetic bacteria)
started photosynthesis – 3500 mya
• Great Oxidation Event – 2200 mya
• The current concentration of oxygen gas within the
atmosphere is approximately 20%

45
2.9 A1. Changes to the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and rock deposition due to
photosynthesis

Oceans
• Earth’s oceans initially had high levels of dissolved iron (from
the crust by underwater volcanic vents)
• Iron reacts with oxygen gas to form an insoluble precipitate
(iron oxide)
• When the iron in the ocean was mostly consumed, oxygen gas
started accumulating in the atmosphere

46
2.9 A1. Changes to the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and rock deposition due to
photosynthesis

Iron deposits
– Increase in oxygen causes oxidation of dissolved
iron in the water  precipitation into the sea bed.
– Formation of banded iron formation with layer of
iron oxide alternating with other minerals on
rocks.  Steel production!

47
 DBQ Practice
1.

wavelength on the x axis and leaf area and

height on two y axes; suitable scales on the x
axis and the two y axes; appropriate legends on
each axis stating what the variable is; units
stated on each axis; all points plotted correctly;
all points joined with straight lines between the
points;
48
2.

inverse correlation/larger leaf area with lower

height;

49
3.

red only makes the seedlings very tall so plants might need more
support/height to grow; orange only gives the lowest leaf area
which might reduce photosynthesis rate; blue only gives the
largest leaf area which might increase photosynthesis rate; red,
green and blue combined gives the lowest height and second
highest leaf area; data does not indicate photosynthesis rates
with the different wavelengths; data does not indicate crop
yields with the different wavelengths.

50
Sample Question

51
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on
the rate of photosynthesis.
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on
the rate of photosynthesis.
2.9 U6 Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on
the rate of photosynthesis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQYKa5AofQ8
2.9 A1. Changes to the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and rock deposition due to
photosynthesis

Discuss the effect of ocean seeding

http://oceaneos.org/ocean-seeding/what-is-ocean-seeding/

56
Sample Question

57
2.9.A1 Changes to the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and rock deposition due to
photosynthesis.

• Describe the Earth’s atmosphere before the process of photosynthesis

evolved.
• State the type of organism that first carried out photosynthesis and how
long ago it arose.
• Photosynthetic organisms have caused many changes to the Earth. Outline
how these organisms have affected each of the following.
• The atmosphere:
• The oceans:
• Rock deposition:

58
DBQ: Growth of tomato seedlings
in red, green and blue light

59
 Question 1
Plot a graph to show the relationship between
wavelength, leaf area and height. Do not
attempt to plot the results for combinations of
LEDs.

60
 Question 1

• wavelength on the x axis and leaf area and

height on two y axes; suitable scales on the x
axis and the two y axes;
• appropriate legends on each axis stating what
the variable is;
• units stated on each axis;
• all points plotted correctly;

61
 Question 2
Using your graph, deduce the relationship
between the leaf area of the seedlings and their
height.
• inverse correlation/larger leaf area with lower
height;

62
 Question 3
Evaluate the data in the table for a grower of tomato crops in
greenhouses who is considering using LED to provide light.
• red only makes the seedlings very tall so plants might need
more support/height to grow; orange only gives the lowest
leaf area which might reduce photosynthesis rate;
• blue only gives the largest leaf area which might increase
photosynthesis rate;
• red, green and blue combined gives the lowest height and
second highest leaf area;
• data does not indicate photosynthesis rates with the different
wavelengths;
• data does not indicate crop yields with the different
wavelengths.
63
 Separation of photosynthetic
pigments by chromatograph.
(Practical 4)
• Paper chromatography can be used to
separate photosynthetic pigments but thin
layer chromatography gives better results

64
LET’S DIVE DEEPER

OPTION C4 (SL)
AHL TOPIC 8.2 (HL)

65