Can You Name the Flattened Sacs of Photosynthesis? Take the Quiz!
Dive into our CH 8 Photosynthesis quiz and master light-dependent reactions.
Use this quiz to practice naming the flattened sacs of internal membranes in photosynthesis and recall what they do in the light‑dependent reactions. It's a fast check to find gaps before an exam, and you can review more with our full photosynthesis quiz .
Study Outcomes
- Identify thylakoids -
Recognize thylakoids, the flattened sacs of internal membranes associated with photosynthesis, and describe their location within the chloroplast.
- Explain light-dependent reactions -
Outline how light energy is captured by photosystems in the thylakoid membrane and used to generate ATP and NADPH.
- Analyze proton gradient formation -
Describe how electron transport across the thylakoid membrane creates a proton gradient and drives ATP synthesis.
- Distinguish chloroplast compartments -
Compare the structure and function of thylakoids versus the stroma in ch 8 photosynthesis processes.
- Link to carbon fixation -
Connect ATP and NADPH produced in thylakoids to their roles in the carbon fixation reactions of the Calvin cycle.
Cheat Sheet
- Thylakoid Definition -
In ch 8 photosynthesis you learn that the flattened sacs of internal membranes associated with photosynthesis are called thylakoids. These disk-shaped structures house chlorophyll and form the site for the light-dependent reactions. A simple mnemonic is "Think LID" (Light-Dependent Interior Disks) to recall their shape and function.
- Grana and Stroma Structure -
Thylakoids stack to form grana, which resemble stacks of coins and increase surface area for photon capture, a concept often tested in photosynthesis quizzes. The surrounding stroma is where carbon fixation quiz topics like the Calvin cycle occur, highlighting compartmentalization in chloroplasts. Visualize a "green pancake stack" to remember grana composition and stroma location.
- Photosystems I and II -
Embedded in the thylakoid membrane are Photosystem II and Photosystem I, each absorbing specific light wavelengths (680 nm and 700 nm respectively), a key point in any light-dependent reactions quiz. The Z-scheme path illustrates how electrons move from H2O to NADP+, forming NADPH: H2O→PSII→ETC→PSI→NADP+→NADPH. To memorize order, recall "Z-flow" like a zigzag slide of energy transfer!
- Chemiosmosis and ATP Synthase -
Protons accumulate in the thylakoid lumen during electron transport, creating a proton gradient (ΔpH) that drives ATP synthase to produce ATP from ADP + Pi (ADP + Pi → ATP). This proton-motive force is central in light-dependent reactions quiz questions and highlights chemiosmotic coupling as proposed by Peter Mitchell. Imagine protons "rushing" through ATP synthase like water through a turbine to generate energy.
- Link to Carbon Fixation -
Although thylakoids focus on light reactions, the ATP and NADPH they generate fuel the Calvin cycle in the stroma, which is often featured in the carbon fixation quiz section. The Calvin cycle fixes CO2 into G3P using the equation 3CO2 + 9ATP + 6NADPH → G3P + 9ADP + 8Pi + 6NADP+, tying both quizzes together. A handy mnemonic is "CAR Fix" (CO2 + ATP + NADPH → Carbohydrate).