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Biology
2.3 Photosynthesis
2.4 Organisms and their environment
Steve Bishop
November 2013
B2.3 Photosynthesis
Green plants and algae use light energy to make their own food. They obtain the raw
materials they need to make this food from the air and the soil. The conditions plants are
grown in can be changed to promote growth.
You need to be able to:
interpret data showing how factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
evaluate the benefits of artificially manipulating the environment in which plants are grown.
Key words
Photosynthesis
Glucose
Chlorophyll
Chloroplasts
Algae
Carbon dioxide
B2.3.1 Photosynthesis
a) Photosynthesis is summarised by the equation:
light energy
carbon dioxide + water
glucose + oxygen
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b) During photosynthesis:
light energy is absorbed by a green substance called chlorophyll, which is found in
chloroplasts in some plant cells and algae
this energy is used by converting carbon dioxide (from the air) and water (from the
soil) into sugar (glucose)
oxygen is released as a by-product
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Low temperature
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d) Light, temperature and the availability of carbon dioxide interact and in practice any one of
them may be the factor that limits photosynthesis.
What is meant by a limiting
factor?
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e) The glucose produced in photosynthesis may be converted into insoluble starch for
storage. Plant cells use some of the glucose produced during photosynthesis for respiration.
f) Some glucose in plants and algae is used:
to produce fat or oil for storage
to produce cellulose, which strengthens the cell wall
to produce proteins.
g) To produce proteins, plants also use nitrate ions that are absorbed from the soil.
In a science fiction book, a villain threatens to spray the countryside with a chemical that
destroys chlorophyll (the green substance in plants).
What effect will this have on plant life?
Explain your answer as fully as you can.
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A small tree is planted in a meadow. After 20 years it has grown into a big tree, weighing 250
kg more than when it was planted.
Where do you think the extra 250 kg come from?
Explain your answer as fully as you can.
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GCSE Question
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Use words from the box to complete the labels on the diagram. You may use each word
once or not at all.
carbon dioxide
chlorophyll
light
oxygen
glucose
heat
water
(5)
(b)
(i)
(ii)
The plant turns some of the glucose into starch. Why is starch useful to the plant?
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(1)
(iii)
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(c)
(i)
(ii)
Q2.
diffusion
(a)
photosynthesis
respiration
(1)
(b)
mineral salts
light
oxygen
(1)
chlorophyll
(c)
The energy needed for this process is trapped for the plant by
glucose
light
(1)
chlorophyll
(d)
glucose
starch
(1)
(Total 4 marks)
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Q3.
(a)
Use the following words to fill in the gaps. You can use each word once or not at all.
carbon
chlorophyll
oxygen
cytoplasm
sound
light
starch
nitrogen
water
(b)
(c)
How do the two raw materials for photosynthesis get into the plant?
1. ...............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
2. ................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(d)
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Q4.
(a)
(i)
(ii)
Most of the carbon dioxide that a plant uses during photosynthesis is absorbed from
the air.
Give one other source of carbon dioxide for a plant.
Draw a ring around your answer.
the soil
water
(1)
A student investigated the conditions that plants need for photosynthesis.The leaves of the
plant he used had green and white parts.
Diagram 1 shows how part of one leaf was covered in black (opaque) card.The plant was
placed in a warm, sunny area and was watered well.Eight hours later the leaf was removed
from the plant and was tested for starch.
The results of the test are shown in Diagram 2, the shaded parts show where starch was
present.
Diagram 1
(b)
Diagram 2
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(c)
(ii)
Q5.
(a)
(i)
The student said, I have noticed that the short bushes grow next to the house. I
think that the more light the bushes get, the faster they will grow.
Draw lines to match each of the students statements to the correct term. Draw only
two lines.
(2)
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(ii)
(b)
The student decided to investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of
photosynthesis.
She used the apparatus shown in the diagram.
(i)
Suggest how the student varied the intensity of the light received by the pondweed.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(ii)
(iii)
Q6.
Some students investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis in pond
weed. They set up the apparatus and altered the temperature using ice and hot water. They
counted the number of bubbles given off in a minute at different temperatures.
(b)
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(c)
(d)
At what temperature should he keep his greenhouse to grow the lettuces as quickly
and cheaply as possible?
............................ C
(1)
(ii)
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Q7.
(b)
(c)
(d)
Variegated leaves have areas that are green and areas that are white. Some students
used variegated leaves to investigate photosynthesis.
They covered a variegated leaf with a black paper shape.
The leaf was left in a sunny place.
They tested the leaf for starch.
The results were compared with a leaf that was not covered.
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covered
uncovered
Green area
no
yes
White area
no
no
Q8.
(a)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(b)
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(c)
The diagram shows the outline of a cross-section of a leaf. Name cells 1 and 2 and
describe how they are involved in photosynthesis.
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(4)
(Total 12 marks)
Q9.
(a)
(2)
(b)
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Name one type of plant which could live on the floor of a dense forest in the middle
of summer.
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(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
Suggest and explain why cacti can only develop satisfactorily if they receive
full sunlight.
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(2)
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Key terms
Habitat
Temperature
Nutrients
Quantitative
Random sampling
Quadrats
Transect
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sampling
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along a transect.
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Q2
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