Effect of Wavelength free essay sample

The following experiment helped determined the fastest photosynthetic reaction rate from wavelength ranging from 450, 545, 650, and 750 nm, and intensities 3, 7, 15, 35, and 150 uEinsteins/m^2/sec. The products from the light reaction are needed for the dark reaction. Therefore the light reaction rate determines the photosynthetic reaction rate. Experiment Data showed that at 650 nm and a light intensity of 35 m2/sec was a peak. The peak represented the highest points of absorbance. at those points. The absorbance determines was an optimum. Biological concepts of light absorbance support the experimental results. The wavelength at 650 nm is energetically stable and it would be able to efficiently deliver energy for the transfer of electrons. While with higher light intensities the chlorophyll readily absorbs light and photosynthetic rate increases. Introduction This research is important because it helped determine at which wavelength of light and at which light intensity the chloroplast would generate the fastest photosynthetic reaction rate of photosynthesis. We will write a custom essay sample on Effect of Wavelength or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Photosynthesis takes place on chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are powered by the sun to transform light energy into chemical energy of ATP and NADPH. Photosynthesis is the biological conversion of light energy to chemical bond energy that is stored in the form of organic compounds (Falkowski, pg 1). The reaction of photosynthesis works as follows: 6 molecules of carbon dioxide + 12 molecules of water + photons combine to produce 1 molecule of glucose and 6 molecules of oxygen. Furthermore, the reaction of photosynthesis is divided into 2 phases, the light reaction and the dark reaction. The light reaction determines the rate of the dark reaction because the byproducts of the light reaction are needed in the dark reaction (lab manual). Therefore, the light rate of reaction will determine the overall reaction rate of photosynthesis. In the experiment, the light reaction was tested. There are several limiting factors on the photosynthetic rate of reaction. For purposes of this experiment, however, only light intensity and wavelength were measured. Light is an electromagnetic radiation that changes the energy state of atoms or molecules. The entire range of radiation is known as the electromagnetic spectrum. The most important segment is the radiation of visible light, which ranges from 380 nm to 750 nm (Campbell pg186). Substances that absorb visible light are called pigments. Different pigments are characteristic of different wavelength. Radiation from light emits wavelengths, which is the distance between the crest of electromagnetic waves. The shorter the wavelength, the greater the energy of each photon of that light. The chlorophyll molecules of chloroplasts absorb the wavelengths of violet-blue at 450nm and red light at 650nm and transmits green light. Violet-blue and red light are the most effective colors that conduct photosynthesis. This is why, leaves appear green. By using a spectrophotometer, one is able to measure the ability of a pigment to absorb various wavelengths. Photosynthesis begins when pigment chlorophyll absorbs one photon (light) from the sun and loses one electron. As light is absorbed, a light reaction occurs. In photosynthesis, the light absorbed is used to alter the electronic structure of pigment molecules. Then an electron can be physically transferred from electron donor to electron acceptor (Falkowski 65). Therefore, the electron is transferred to special structures called reaction centers, photosystems, where the energy is used in electrical separation (Falkowski pg 33). The light wavelength and light intensity play a major role in the light reaction. They determine the rate in which chloroplasts would accept electrons to be transferred from photosystem II to photosystem I. The light absorbed by photosystem II raised the electron at P680 to a higher energy level. Energy is then transferred to a primary electron acceptor. The electrons are then passed along an electron transport chain to the P700 molecules in photosystem I. These electrons are passed on through electron acceptors that donate the electron to NADP+. . The energy released drive the transfer of electrons in an oxidation-reduction mechanism in which NADP+ is reduced to NADPH. Oxidation occurs when electrons are donated and reduction occurs when electrons are gained. The excess of energy from the oxidation-reduction process generates a proton gradient across the chloroplast membrane and ATP is produced in a process called phosphorylation. The dye 2, 6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP), was used as the artificial electron acceptor in the experiment. It took the place of the NADP+. In its oxidizing state the dye is blue, and when reduced it is colorless. NADP+ accepts electrons converting to NADPH to be used in the dark reaction. Using a spectrophotometer, one was able to determine the decolorization rate, which helped measure the photosynthetic reaction rate. The effectiveness of different pigments to absorb light energy is particular to different wavelengths and light intensities. In sum, absorption light at wavelengths ranging at 450 and at 650 would have faster photosynthetic rates because the light would be absorbed readily.