AP Syllabus focus:
‘Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide, water, and light energy to produce carbohydrates and oxygen in photosynthetic organisms.’
Photosynthesis is the central biological process that transforms light energy into chemical energy stored in organic molecules. It links energy flow with carbon cycling, providing both biomass and oxygen that support most ecosystems.
Practice Questions
FAQ
Chlorophyll pigments absorb red and blue wavelengths more strongly than green, so green light is more likely to be reflected or transmitted, making tissues appear green.
In oxygenic photosynthesis, the released $O_2$ originates from the splitting of $H_2O$, not from $CO_2$.
Energy transformation refers to storing light energy in chemical bonds. Carbon fixation refers to incorporating inorganic carbon ($CO_2$) into organic molecules.
Absorption spectrum: which wavelengths a pigment absorbs.
Action spectrum: which wavelengths most effectively drive photosynthesis (often reflects combined effects of multiple pigments).
Limits include uneven light availability, self-shading, and constraints on delivering $CO_2$ and water to photosynthetic cells, so not all incoming light can be converted into stored chemical energy.
