AQA GCSE Biology- Photosynthesis

Designed for the new specification AQA GCSE course but can be modified for other exam boards.

29 slides covering Photosynthesis

By the end of the powerpoint students would have covered:

4.4.1.1 Photosynthetic reaction

Photosynthesis is represented by the equation:
carbon dioxide + water light glucose + oxygen
Students should recognise the chemical symbols: CO2, H2O, O2 and C6H12O6.
Students should be able to describe photosynthesis as an endothermic reaction in which energy is transferred from the environment to the chloroplasts by light.

4.4.1.2 Rate of photosynthesis
Students should be able to explain the effects of temperature, light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and the amount of chlorophyll on the rate of photosynthesis.

Students should be able to:
measure and calculate rates of photosynthesis
extract and interpret graphs of photosynthesis rate involving one limiting factor
plot and draw appropriate graphs selecting appropriate scale for axes
translate information between graphical and numeric form.

(HT only) These factors interact and any one of them may be the factor that limits photosynthesis.
(HT only) Students should be able to explain graphs of photosynthesis rate involving two or three factors and decide which is the limiting factor.
(HT only) Students should understand and use inverse proportion – the inverse square law and light intensity in the context of photosynthesis.
(HT only) Limiting factors are important in the economics of enhancing the conditions in greenhouses to gain the maximum rate of photosynthesis while still maintaining profit.

**Required practical activity 6: investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis using an aquatic organism such as pondweed. **

4.4.1.3 Uses of glucose from photosynthesis

The glucose produced in photosynthesis may be:
used for respiration
converted into insoluble starch for storage
used to produce fat or oil for storage
used to produce cellulose, which strengthens the cell wall
used to produce amino acids for protein synthesis.
To produce proteins, plants also use nitrate ions that are absorbed from the