Photosynthesis Grade 11

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Mode of nutrition of organisms
Autotrophic nutrition Heterotrophic nutrition

Ex: Animals
Photoautotrophs Chemoautotrophs
Ex: Plants Ex: Some bacteria
 As plants produce food by themselves by the process of
photosynthesis, they are known as photoautotrophs.
 The other animals depends directly or indirectly on food produced by
the plants. Thus they are known as heterotrophs.
Utilizing the energy from sunlight, the cells containing chlorophyll in

green plants synthesize food using carbondioxide and water as raw
materials. This process is called photosynthesis.
1
 Fac Factors affecting photosynthesis
1. Water
2. Carbon dioxide External factors
3. Sunlight
4. Chlorophyll Internal factor
Water
 Root hairs absorb water in the soil by the process of osmosis.
 This absorbed water travels to the root xylem through the cortex and
endodermis.
 Then travels through the xylem of the stem and transported to the
mesophyll cells.
2
Carbon dioxide
 Atmospheric carbon dioxide diffuses into leaves through stomata, and
reaches the mesophyll cells via intercellular spaces.
Electron microscopic view of a stomata
3
Chlorophyll
 Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll present in the plant leaves.
Plant leaves absorb the red and blue light of sunlight during
photosynthesis.
4
P Products of photosynthesis
Glucose
 The main product of photosynthesis process is glucose.
( C4 H12 O6)
 This glucose will temporarily stored as starch in leaves.
 Part of this starch will convert into sucrose (C12H22O11) and transport
into other tissues, via phloem.
 Once sucrose is transported it will convert into starch and stored in
storing organs.
Oxygen
 The by product of the photosynthesis process is oxygen
 It will diffuse into the atmosphere through stomata.
The word equation for the photosynthesis is,

Sunlight
Carbon dioxide + water Glucose +Oxygen
Chlorophyll
The balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis,
Sunlight
6 CO2 (g) + 6 H2 O (l) C6 H12 O6 (s) + 6 O2 (g)
Chlorophyll
5
 Test to identify the starch produced during photosynthesis
Procedure
 Pluck a leaf from a plant which was in sunlight and boil in water.
 Place it in the test tube with alcohol and boil in a water bath.
 After washing the leaf with water add few drops of Iodine
solution.
Observations
 The solution turns into green color as chlorophylls have dissolved
in alcohol, and the leaf turns into pale colour.
 When Iodine was added, leaf turns to blue or dark purple.
6
Conclusion
Starch is present in the leaf.
 Why the leaf is boiled in water ?

By boiling the permeability of the cells in the leaves will increase.
 Why the leaf is boiled in an alcohol solution?
To dissolve the chlorophyll in the leaves.
 Why the test tube is boiled in a water bath?
As alcohol is highly flammable, the test tube is boiled in a water
bath.
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 Experiment to show that the sunlight is required for photosynthesis
Se Procedure
 Select two leaves almost similar to each other (A and B leaves)
of the plant kept in dark for 48hrs.
 Cover a part of leaf A with black polythene and part of leaf B
with colourless polythene.
 Keep it under sunlight for 3-5 hours.
 Prepare the leaves for starch test.
Observations
There is no colour change in the covered area of the leaf A but the
covered area of leaf B turns to purple or blue.
Conclusions
The covered area of leaf A has not received sunlight. Therefore
photosynthesis has not taken place. Thus, there was no colour
change with Iodine solution.
The covered area of leaf B with colourless polythene has received
sunlight. Therefore photosynthesis has taken place and showed a
colour change to dark purple or blue indicating starch has been
produced.
Thus can conclude that sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis.

8
 Experiment to show that the CO2 is required for
 photosynthesis

Procedure
 Select two similar leaves of the plant C and D.
 Add potassium hydroxide (KOH) and water to transparent
polythene bags separately. Then insert leaf D into the polythene
bag with KOH and leaf C into the bag with water and make them
air tight.
 Place the plant in sunlight for 3-5 hrs.
 Then detach leaves C and D and carry out starch test separately.
Observations
There is no colour change in leaf D and there is a colour change in
leaf C after adding Iodine solution.
Conclusion
KOH present in bag D absorbs CO2. Therefore leaf D does not
photosynthesise as it does not recieve CO2. Therefore there is no
colour change. Leaf C recieves CO2, so it photosynthesises.
Therefore a colour change can be observed. Leaf D has not
produced starch but leaf C has produced starch.
Accordingly it can be concluded that CO2 is necessary for

photosynthesis.
9
 Experiment to show that chlorophyll is required for
photosynthesis
Procedure
Pluck a mosaic leaf. Draw a sketch of it with its pattern. Carry out
starch test for it.
Observations
There is no color change in the white regions but a colour change can
be observed in green colour regions.
Conclusions
The white colour regions lack chlorophyll, so photosynthesis has not
taken place. Therefore starch has not been produced.
So it can be concluded that chlorophyll is essential for

photosynthesis.
10
 Experiment to show O2 is produced during photosynthesis
Procedure
Add water into the beaker. Then place Hydrilla or Vallisneria
inside the funnel. Fill a boiling tube with water and place it
inverted on the funnel as in the diagram. Place the setup in
sunlight.
Observations
Gas bubbles are released from the aquatic plant and the gas gets
collected at the top of the boiling tube.
After the accumulation of gas about 3/4 th of its volume, the tube
will be taken out and a glowing splinter is inserted to test whether
it is oxygen. The splinter will burn with a bright flame.
Conclusions
Can conclude that the gas given out in photosynthesis is oxygen.
11
Importance of photosynthesis
1. Produce food and all organisms live on earth depend directly

or indirectly on that food.
2. The oxygen gas which is required for the survival of aerobic
organisms and combustion of materials is released mainly by
photosynthesis.
3. Carbon dioxide that is accumulated due to respiration and
combustion is removed from the environment by
photosynthesis.
4. Helps to maintain O2 and CO2 balance in the atmosphere and
helps to maintain the carbon cycle.
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Photosynthesis Grade 11

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Photosynthesis Grade 11

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PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Mode of nutrition of organisms

Autotrophic nutrition Heterotrophic nutrition

Utilizing the energy from sunlight, the cells containing chlorophyll in

Electron microscopic view of a stomata

The word equation for the photosynthesis is,

The balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis,

 Why the leaf is boiled in water ?

Accordingly it can be concluded that CO2 is necessary for

So it can be concluded that chlorophyll is essential for

1. Produce food and all organisms live on earth depend directly

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