Photosynthesis and Cellular Energy

Adenosine diphosphate

A low-energy molecule that can be converted to ATP. Adenosine diphosphate. Adenosine diphosphate ADP is a molecule that cells use to store and transfer energy.

Aerobic

Chemical reactions that require oxygen. Aerobic. Aerobic means using oxygen to produce energy.

Anaerobic

Chemical reactions that dont require oxygen. Anaerobic. Anaerobic means that a process or reaction occurs without the presence of oxygen.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, molecules that store energy. ATP. It's like a tiny battery in cells that powers many biological functions.

ATP synthase

An enzyme that adds a high-energy phosphate group to turn ADP into ATP. ATP synthase. ATP synthase is a protein that helps produce energy in cells by converting ADP to ATP.

Calvin cycle

The light-independent stage of photosynthesis which uses energy and CO2 to form sugars. Calvin cycle. The Calvin cycle is a process in plants that uses carbon dioxide, energy from ATP and NADPH to make sugars.

Cellular respiration

Cells using oxygen to produce energy from food. Cellular respiration. It's how cells convert food into energy using oxygen.

Chlorophyll

The green pigment in plants that uses light energy for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the substance in plants that captures sunlight to help turn it into energy.

Electron transport chain

A protein series in cell membranes that transport high-energy electrons, this releases energy. Electron transport chain. The electron transport chain is a process in cells that helps produce energy by transferring electrons through proteins.

Fermentation

Cells breaking down molecules to release energy without using oxygen. Fermentation. Fermentation is a process where cells convert sugars into energy and byproducts like alcohol or lactic acid without using oxygen.

Glycolysis

The breaking down of glucose in the first step of cellular respiration. Glycolysis is a process where sugar is split to release energy for the cell.

Krebs cycle

The process that breaks down pyruvic acid to release energy during cellular respiration. Krebs cycle. The Krebs cycle is a series of chemical reactions in cells that converts food into energy.

Light dependent reaction

A reaction during photosynthesis that uses light to create ATP and NADPH. Light dependent reaction. It is the process where plants use sunlight to produce energy-rich molecules.

NADP

An electron carrier molecule involved in photosynthesis. NADP. NADP is a molecule that helps transfer energy during the process of photosynthesis in plants.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make food. Photosynthesis. In simple terms, photosynthesis is how plants make their own food using sunlight.

Photosystem

The light-absorbing units in a chloroplast. Photosystem. A photosystem is a group of proteins and pigments in plants that captures sunlight to help produce energy.

Pigment

A colored chemical compound that absorbs some colors of light and reflects others. Pigment. In simple terms, a pigment is a substance that gives color to objects by absorbing certain wavelengths of light.

Stroma

The fluid portion of a chloroplast. Stroma. Stroma is the jelly-like substance inside chloroplasts where the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis occur.

Thylakoid

The light-absorbing structures in chloroplasts. Thylakoid. In simple terms, a thylakoid is a tiny, flat sac inside a chloroplast where sunlight is captured for energy to make food in plants.