Quarter 2 / Semester 1, Week 1: Concept Notes With Formative Activities
Quarter 2 / Semester 1, Week 1: Concept Notes With Formative Activities
Quarter 2 / Semester 1, Week 1: Concept Notes With Formative Activities
Online Resource/s:
Biologydictionary.net Editors. (2016). Chlorophyll. Retrieved from
https://biologydictionary.net/chlorophyll/
1
Chlorophyll
Functions of Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll in the Biosynthesis of Sugars
Plants use both forms of chlorophyll to collect the energy from light. Chlorophyll
is concentrated in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are the
organelles in which photosynthesis takes place. The thylakoids are small sacs of
membrane, stacked on top of each other. Embedded in these membranes are a variety
of proteins that surround chlorophyll. These proteins work together to transfer the
energy from light, through chlorophyll, and into the bonds of ATP – the energy
transferring molecule of cells. ATP can then be used in the Calvin cycle, or dark cycle,
to create sugars.
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The series of proteins that transfer energy from light and channel it into the
synthesis of sugars are known as photosystems. The entire process, both light and
dark cycles together, is known as photosynthesis, and occurs in plants, algae, and
some bacteria. These organisms take in carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and
sunlight to produce glucose. They can use this glucose in the process of cellular
respiration to create ATP, or they can combine the glucose into more complex
molecules to be stored.
Benefits of Chlorophyll
In this experiment, you'll be able to observe the chlorophyll in leaves and to see
what a leaf looks like without its chlorophyll.
To carry out the experiment, you'll need:
a small pan;
tweezers;
a glass;
a container of warm water;
rubbing alcohol;
a green leaf (needles won't work as well).
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Begin by boiling little amount of water in the pan. You don't need very much,
just a few centimeters in the pan will do. Turn off the heat. Put the leaf into the water
and let it steep for no more than 30 to 60 seconds. Use the tweezers to take the leaf
out of the water, then carefully put it into the glass. Cover the leaf with rubbing alcohol,
then sit the glass in the container of warm water and leave it for an hour. Document
your experiment and send it in print or digitally to your teacher.