Biology · Class 11· Flashcards

Photosynthesis Flashcards — Quick Revision

15cards · Recall each answer, then open a card to check it.

What is the overall equation of photosynthesis?Show answer
6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 (in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll)
Where do light reactions occur?Show answer
On the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast.
Where does the Calvin cycle occur?Show answer
In the stroma of the chloroplast.
What does photolysis mean?Show answer
The splitting of water molecules using light energy, releasing O2, H+, and electrons.
What is RuBisCO?Show answer
Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase — the enzyme that fixes CO2 in the Calvin cycle. Most abundant protein on Earth.
Products of light reactions?Show answer
ATP, NADPH, and O2.
Products of the Calvin cycle?Show answer
G3P (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate), which is converted to glucose.
Which photosystem acts first?Show answer
Photosystem II (PS II) acts first, despite its name. Naming is by discovery order.
What is the first stable product of the Calvin cycle?Show answer
3-PGA (3-phosphoglycerate), a 3-carbon compound.
Why do leaves appear green?Show answer
Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light but reflects green light.
How many CO2 molecules for one glucose?Show answer
6 CO2 molecules (6 turns of the Calvin cycle).
Cyclic vs non-cyclic photophosphorylation?Show answer
Cyclic: PS I only → ATP only. Non-cyclic: PS II + PS I → ATP + NADPH + O2.
What are stomata?Show answer
Tiny pores on leaf surfaces that allow CO2 in and O2 out. Guard cells control their opening.
What is chemiosmosis?Show answer
H+ ions flow through ATP synthase down their concentration gradient, generating ATP.
What does the oxygen in O2 come from?Show answer
From water (H2O), not from CO2. Proven by isotope tracing experiments.
Full answer keyOpen after testing yourself on the cards.
Photosynthesis flashcards: questions and answers
QuestionAnswer
What is the overall equation of photosynthesis?6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 (in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll)
Where do light reactions occur?On the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast.
Where does the Calvin cycle occur?In the stroma of the chloroplast.
What does photolysis mean?The splitting of water molecules using light energy, releasing O2, H+, and electrons.
What is RuBisCO?Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase — the enzyme that fixes CO2 in the Calvin cycle. Most abundant protein on Earth.
Products of light reactions?ATP, NADPH, and O2.
Products of the Calvin cycle?G3P (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate), which is converted to glucose.
Which photosystem acts first?Photosystem II (PS II) acts first, despite its name. Naming is by discovery order.
What is the first stable product of the Calvin cycle?3-PGA (3-phosphoglycerate), a 3-carbon compound.
Why do leaves appear green?Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light but reflects green light.
How many CO2 molecules for one glucose?6 CO2 molecules (6 turns of the Calvin cycle).
Cyclic vs non-cyclic photophosphorylation?Cyclic: PS I only → ATP only. Non-cyclic: PS II + PS I → ATP + NADPH + O2.
What are stomata?Tiny pores on leaf surfaces that allow CO2 in and O2 out. Guard cells control their opening.
What is chemiosmosis?H+ ions flow through ATP synthase down their concentration gradient, generating ATP.
What does the oxygen in O2 come from?From water (H2O), not from CO2. Proven by isotope tracing experiments.

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Last updated: 2026-05-28