Photosynthesis Webquest

PHOTOSYNTHESIS WEBQUEST BY: Mr. Meszaros

What is photosynthesis? Why is it important to you? This quest will lead to an understanding of the process of photosynthesis. You will be researching this process and then you will take a quiz in Mr. Meszaros’ room tomorrow. You will be able to use any notes that you take today on your quiz tomorrow. This means you must study tonight! You should also READ Chapter 2 Section 1 tonight for homework.

We will start this web-quest by going to the following link and scrolling down to the section titled, “Thank a Plant Everyday.”

Read this entire section carefully! Be sure to find out what everything must have in order to survive. You should also be able to name the 3 organisms that can carry out the process of photosynthesis.

"Thank A Plant Everyday"

Now read about “Photosynthesis Is For The Birds—and Everything Else”, by clicking on this new link. Read this section and make sure you can name what we call an organism that can carry out the process of photosynthesis and what are the 2 end products they make from this process.

"Photosynthesis Is For The Birds-- And Everything Else" The process of photosynthesis occurs in 2 steps.

The first step is called the LIGHT PHASE because the plant must have light in order for this to happen. During this phase the chlorophyll takes sunlight and water and changes them into ATP, (which is a form of chemical energy) Hydrogen & Oxygen. The plant as a waste gas gives off the Oxygen, which goes out of the plant through the Stomata’s.

The second step is called the DARK PHASE. The Hydrogen and ATP left over from the light phase will be used in the Dark Phase. Since ATP is the energy for this reaction, this reaction may happen in the dark or in the light. It will continue to happen as long as ATP is available. During this reaction The ATP combines the Hydrogen from the light Phase with Carbon Dioxide and makes a sugar called Glucose and New Water that is used by the plant.

The following link will take you to a diagram of the photosynthesis process. Notice that photosynthesis uses Sunlight, Water and Carbon Dioxide that must get to the Chlorophyll where a chemical reaction happens that changes those ingredients into Oxygen, Glucose and New Water. This diagram is showing the process in 1 Chloroplast. You should remember from last chapter that there are hundreds of chloroplasts in each plant cell. So this process is happening in millions of chloroplasts in a plant.

DIAGRAM OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS