Which molecules are reactants in photosynthesis?

Student Exploration: Cell Energy Cycle

 

**FOR THE BEST LAB EXPERIENCE, PLEASE READ THROUGH ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN STEP BY STEP!

Vocabulary: aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, ATP, cellular respiration, chemical energy, chlorophyll, chloroplast, cytoplasm, glucose, glycolysis, mitochondria, photosynthesis, radiant energy

 

 

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

 

1. What does a plant need to survive and grow? ____________________________________

 

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2. What does an animal need to survive and grow? _________________________________

 

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3. How do animals and plants depend on each other? _______________________________

 

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Gizmo Warm-up

The Cell Energy Cycle Gizmo™ illustrates two processes that are essential to life: photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

 

Although both of these reactions involve a series of complex steps, the basic reactants and products in each process are four relatively simple molecules.

 

1. What is the chemical formula of oxygen? _______

 

 

2. Glucose is a simple sugar. What is the chemical formula of glucose? _________________________

 

3. What is the chemical formula of carbon dioxide? _______

 

 

4. What is the chemical formula of water? _______

Activity A:   Photosynthesis

Get the Gizmo ready: ·      If necessary, click Reset. ·      Check that the PHOTOSYNTHESIS tab is selected. Check that Description is turned on.

 

Introduction: Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast, an organelle found in plant and algae cells. Within the chloroplast, a green pigment called chlorophyll converts the radiant energy of sunlight into chemical energy that the plant can use.

 

Question: What are the reactants and products of photosynthesis?

 

1. Predict: Of the molecules shown on the CHEMICALS pane, which do you think are reactants (ingredients) in photosynthesis? Which do you think are products?

 

Reactants: ___________________________    Products: ___________________________

 

 

2. Explore: Drag each molecule from the CHEMICALS pane to the chloroplast on the PHOTOSYNTHESIS pane. If a molecule is a reactant, it will stay in the chloroplast.

 

Which molecules are reactants in photosynthesis? _________________________________

 

 

3. Observe: Click Add light and look at the Output. What are the products of photosynthesis?

 

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4. Summarize: A chemical equation shows reactants on the left side of an arrow, and products on the right, like this: reactant + reactant à product + product.

 

Based on your observations, what is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?

 

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Turn on Show chemical equation to check. Were you correct? _____________

 

4b.  Click the camera  to take a snapshot of your work. Right-click the image and select Copy Image. Paste the image in the space below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Challenge: A chemical equation is balanced when each side of the equation includes the same number of each type of atom.

 

1. Is the equation balanced as written? Why or why not? ________________________

 

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1. If you are familiar with balancing equations, balance the photosynthesis equation. Write the balanced equation below, and then check your work by clicking Balance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activity B:   Cellular respiration

Get the Gizmo ready: ·      Click Reset. ·      Select the RESPIRATION tab.

 

Introduction: Cellular respiration occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and in mitochondria, organelles found in all complex cells. (Bacteria and other simple organisms do not contain mitochondria.) The Gizmo shows a mitochondrion surrounded by yellow cytoplasm.

 

Question: What are the reactants and products of cellular respiration?

 

1. Predict: Of the molecules shown on the CHEMICALS pane, which do you think are reactants (ingredients) in cellular respiration? Which do you think are products?

 

Reactants: ___________________________    Products: ___________________________

 

 

2. Explore: Drag each molecule from the CHEMICALS pane to the RESPIRATION pane.

 

Which molecules are reactants in cellular respiration? ______________________________

 

 

3. Observe: Click Next. What happens in the cytoplasm? _____________________________

 

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This process is called glycolysis. The word Pyruvic is short for pyruvic acid, a product of glycolysis. Glycolysis produces energy, which is stored in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecules. Glycolysis results in a net production of two ATP molecules.

 

 

4. Observe: Click Next. What happens now? _______________________________________

 

 

5. Observe: Click Next. What happens in the mitochondrion? __________________________

5b. Click the camera  to take a snapshot of your work. Right-click the image and select Copy Image. Paste the image in the space below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Energy from the mitochondrion is also stored in the form of ATP. Thirty ATP molecules are produced for every two molecules of pyruvic acid.

 

 

6. Analyze: Cellular respiration involves two phases. Anaerobic respiration does not involve oxygen, while aerobic respiration Where does each phase take place?

 

Anaerobic respiration: _______________________________________________________

 

Aerobic respiration: _________________________________________________________

 

(Activity B continued on next page)

 

Activity B (continued from previous page)

 

7. Summarize: Based on what you have seen, what is the overall chemical equation for cellular respiration? _______________________________________________________________

Turn on Show formula of chemical equation to check. Were you correct? _____________

 

 

8. Challenge: A chemical equation is balanced when each side of the equation includes the same number of each type of atom.

 

1. Is the equation balanced as written? Why or why not? ________________________

 

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1. If you are familiar with balancing equations, balance the cellular respiration equation. Write the balanced equation below, and then check your work by clicking Balance.

 

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9. Extend your thinking: When you think of the word “respiration,” you might think about the process of breathing, which is actually called ventilation. (The respiratory system consists of the windpipe, lungs, etc.)

 

How is breathing related to cellular respiration? (Hint: Think about both the reactants and the products of cellular respiration.)

 

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10. On your own: If no oxygen is present, pyruvic acid breaks down to form lactic acid. You can feel the effects of lactic acid if you exercise very hard. One way to produce lactic acid is to do a “wall sit,” supporting yourself against a wall in a sitting position. Try doing this for a few minutes. What do you feel in your thigh muscles?

 

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