Essential Idea:
Photosynthesis uses the energy in sunlight
to produce the chemical energy needed for life
Understandings:
- Photosynthesis is the production of carbon compounds in cells using light energy
- Visible light has a range of wavelengths with violet the shortest wavelength and red the longest
- Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light most effectively and reflects green light more than other colours
- Oxygen is produced in photosynthesis from the photolysis of water
- Energy is needed to produce carbohydrates and other carbon compounds from carbon dioxide
- Temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration are possible limiting factors on the rate of photosynthesis
Applications:
- Changes to the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and rock deposition due to photosynthesis
Skills:
- Drawing an absorption spectrum for chlorophyll and an action spectrum for photosynthesis
- Design of experiments to investigate the effect of limiting factors on photosynthesis
- Separation of photosynthetic pigments by chromatograph