AP Photosynthesis- key points

Minimal knowledge

• The summary equation of photosynthesis including the source and fate of reactants and products.

• How leaf and chloroplast structure relates to photosynthesis.

• How photosystems convert solar energy to chemical energy.

• How linear electron flow in the light reactions result in the formation of ATP, NADPH and O2

• How chemiosmosis generates ATP in the light reaction.

• How the Calvin cycle uses the energy molecules from the light reaction to produce G3P and then glucose.

• Cyclic and noncyclic photophosphorylation

• Difference between C4 and CAM plants as an adaptation to varied environments.

• Photorespiration as related to “Competitive inhibition” and the enzyme Rubisco.

• Know this vocabulary: matter, element, compound, atom, proton, electron, neutron, covalent bond

• What matter is “rearranged” during photosynthesis?

• What elements make up glucose? What types of bonds are formed?

• What is H+? • What do electrons carry?