Download Photosynthesis means synthesis in presence of light

Photosynthesis means synthesis in presence of light. In this process carbon dioxide is
absorbed from the atmosphere and water is taken from soil in presence of sunlight and
chlorophyll to synthesize the simplest carbohydrate C6H12O6 according to the following
chemical reaction:
6CO2
+ 6H2O
Sunligh,
 Chlorophyl
 l 
C6H12O6
+ 6O2
As we can see in this reaction chlorophyll, which is a Mg (II) compound absorbs sunlight
in the form of light photons, which are nothing but the energy particles, and sunlight is
converted into chemical energy in the form of glucose. Although this process looks
simple it undergoes a series of complex steps of bond breaking and bond forming
accompanied by energy changes. The overall energy change remains same to preserve the
law of conservation of energy.
During respiration complex molecules like carbohydrates, proteins etc are broken into
simpler molecules CO2 and H2O according to the following reaction:
C6H12O6
+
6O2


6CO2
+ 6H2O
So the respiration reaction is opposite of photosynthetic reaction and both occur as paired
processes. Both run hand in glove with each other. During respiration adenosine
triphosphate (ATP) molecules which are the powerhouse of energy are generated which
give us energy to do our day-to-day functions. These ATPs and ADPs (adenosine
diphosphates) are the phosphates, which are characterized by their curly phosphate bonds,
which the chemists and biochemists have characterized as the high-energy bonds. Once
again, like the photosynthetic process, respiration is also a complex chemical process
involving bond breaking and bond forming with energy transformation. The overall
energy again remains constant to obey the law of conservation of energy.
Photosynthesis takes place in leaves (stomata) respiration takes place in lungs, which is
accomplished in the presence of blood, which is Fe (II) heme compound. Blood in
organisms performs two main functions 1) storage of oxygen 2) transport of oxygen.
Although the term oxidation is commonly used for these reactions actually it oxygenation
not oxidation since blood is oxygenated not oxidized. So simple basic coordination
chemistry tells us that on oxygenation, hemoglobin is converted to oxyhemoglobin and it
is this oxygen, which is transported through our circulatory system. This brings out the
process of respiration resulting into breaking of glucose and other complex molecules
into CO2 and H2O.
There are 9 basic Human Organ Systems
1) Respiratory System – The main role of this system is to provide gas exchange
between the environment and human’s blood stream. Basically, oxygen is inhaled
from the air into the lungs; Carbon Dioxide is expelled out of the lungs. Major
organs include nose, lungs and trachea
2) Circulatory System – The main role of this system is to circulate (transport)
nutrients, hormones, gases like O2 and CO2, wastes throughout the body. Main
organs include heart, blood, and blood vessels.
3) Skeletal System – This system provides support to the body, protects vital
delicate organs, and provides attachment site for many of the organs. Main organs
are bones, tendons, cartilage and ligaments
4) Muscular System – This system provides movement to the body. Muscles
together to move limbs and provide the organism with mobility. They also control
the movement of nutrients and other materials through the muscles present in
organs, like stomach and intestine, and the heart and circulatory system. Main
organs include various types of muscles, for example Skeletal and smooth
muscles
5) Nervous System – Major function of this system is to send out and receive
electric signals throughout the body. It is also responsible for the directing
movement and behavior and working with the endocrine system it also controls
some of the physiological systems like digestion, blood and nutrient circulation,
etc. Main organs are brain, peripheral nerves, and the spinal cord.
6) Digestive System – Major role is to break down and absorb nutrients that control
the healthy operation and maintenance of the human body. Main organs are small
intestine, mouth, large intestine, esophagus, and stomach.
7) Endocrine System – As supposed to the nervous system where electrical signals
are involved, this system is responsible for transmitting and accepting chemical
signals throughout the body. Infact, this system works with the nervous system to
carry out important processes like nutrient absorption, growth, etc. Main organs of
this system are many glands, some of which are thyroid, pituitary, hypothalamus
glands
8) Reproductive System – The major role is to produce cells responsible for
reproduction. In males, sperm is produced to work with the egg cells in the
females body to produce a fetus. This system has different organs for males,
which are testes, penis and, seminal vesicles. Females have ovaries, oviducts,
vagina, mammary glands, and uterus.
9) Excretory System – This system’s major function is to filter out cellular waste
and excess water, toxins and nutrients from the blood stream. Major organs are 2
kidneys, urethra, ureters, and bladder.
Animal Cells structure and Functions
Animal cell can be identified with these characteristics; first of all, unlike plant and fungi
cells, they do not have any cell wall. This lack of cell wall allowed animals to more
diverse in terms of cell types, tissues, and organs. An animal cell does have a plasma
membrane and membrane bound nucleus and organelles. Some of the organelles and their
functions are as follows: 1) Centrioles – they are self-replicating consisting of 9 bundles of microtubules.
Main function is to help in organizing cell division but is not completely
responsible for it.
2) Cilia and Flagella – in single celled organism, these are responsible for their
movement in multicellular organisms they move fluid and other materials.
3) Endoplasmic Reticulum - is an organization of sacs that process, manufacture,
and transport chemical compounds to be used inside and outside the cells
4) Golgi apparatus – This is where the distribution and shipment of modified
protein and fats which are built in the endoplasmic reticulum takes place. Then
these proteins and fats are exported outside the cell.
5) Lysosomes - The main function of this organelle is digestion. The break down of
cellular waste products and debris from outside the cell happens here.
6) Mitochondria – Oblong shaped organelles, found in the cytoplasm. These are the
power generators in an animal cell, which convert oxygen and nutrients into
energy.
7) Nucleus – This is a very complex organelle, which basically along with many
other smaller functions works as the administrative and information centre of the
cell.
8) Peroxisomes – These kind-of spherical bodies are a diverse group of organelles,
again found in the cytoplasm, and bound by a single membrane.
9) Plasma Membrane - All living cells have a plasma membrane in which all of the
above organelles reside. In plants and fungi, this membrane is an inner layer of
protection surrounded by the rigid cell wall. In animals, this membrane’s only
function is to contain and protect the organelles in the cell.
10) Ribosome – these are tiny organelles made up of 60% Ribose Nucleic Acid
(RNA) and 40 percent protein.
Plant Cell Structure and Functions
A plant cell has all of the same organelles as in an animal cell, and
they have same functions too, but all plant cells have 3 more organelles which an animal
cell doesn’t have, namely cell wall, chloroplast, and a vacuole.
Functions:1) Cell Wall - Plant cell walls reinforces structures containing cellulose and lignin to
make them rigid.
2) Chloroplast – this is where energy for a plant is produced because chloroplast
contains chlorophyll, which drives the photosynthesis process.
3) Vacuole – This is a very large organelle whose main function is just to store
organics acids, salts, minerals, etc.
Chemistry and Characteristics of living things.
To be considered living, all of the following are required.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
requirement of a physical substance
Some kind of organization process
Ability of reproduce
Ability to obtain energy
Ability to use that energy
Some of the chemical processes occur in a living organisms body are these will be
reactions such as oxidation-reduction reactions, photosynthesis and respiration explained
earlier. This reaction is also known as electron transfer reactions. Some more processes
that identify living things are dehydration, hydrolysis, acid-base reactions, addition,
polymerization, etc
Dehydration – This term is used in biology to signify the loss of water, which can cause
life-threatening condition. Similarly, enough, in chemistry, dehydration refers to a type of
elimination reaction that involves the loss of water from a molecule.
Hydrolysis – This is a chemical reaction or process in which a molecule is split into two
parts when it reacts with water. One of the parts gets an OH- and the other part gets an H+
from the H2O water molecule. The relationship of this process with living things is the
hydrolysis of amide links. In this process, hydrolysis of an amide link into a carboxylic
acid and an amine product, only the carboxylic acid product has a hydroxyl group derived
from the water. A more specific biological case of hydrolysis of an amide link is
hydrolyzation of the peptide links of amino acids.
Acid – Base Reactions: - Acids and bases have real-life significance. The human body
functions properly only at acid-base equilibrium. Crops grow best in soil with the proper
pH, which is a result of the balance between acids and bases.
Addition/Polymerization – it is a process of reacting monomers together in a chemical
reaction to form three-dimensional networks or polymer chains. This process is involved
in a very important process in an eukaryptic cell, Actin polymerization. Actin is a
globular structural protein that polymerizes in a helical fashion to form an actin filament.
They form the cytoskeleton - a three-dimensional network inside plant and fungi cells.
These filaments mechanically support the cell, wich determines cell shape, enable cell
movements. In muscle cells, these actins play an essential role of muscle contraction.