Absorption of light energy and water splitting

Thursday December 13^th

During the first stage of photosynthesis energy is captured in the form of Electromagnetic Waves.

The colors that we SEE are the wavelengths of light that are Reflected.

The energy that is captured causes what to happen in the Thylakoid membrane?  Electrons get excited.

That causes Water to be split into H+  + O2.

First we emptied all the contents of our photosynthesis bags

We were able to SEE how this happened while we did the following activity.  Check out the images and their descriptions to see what we did.

Then water molecules are split to form Hydrogen ions
and oxygen.

Oxygen molecules bond with each other to form O2 which
is the Oxygen we breathe

After this we continued with the light dependent reactions.  This included the following slides of notes and activities:

Adenosine TRIphosphate is a molecule made up of
THREE phosphate groups.  This is created by added a phosphate
group (the red bead) to a molecule of Adenosine DIphosphate ADP
(the yellow bead)

Why did I WANT you to know this?!?!  
I  REALLY want you see that energy is stored in the
chemical bonds of organic molecules.  We will actually
use this molecule during the next stage of photosynthesis
to provide energy.

NADPH was created by adding a hydrogen ion (blue) to
a molecule of NADP

Then.... SOME classes were blessed with watching the following rap that is actually a VERY accurate descrpition of the stages of photosynthesis.......

THEN - some of you watched the following video that gives you an even better demonstration of how light is absorbed and reflected.  This concept really can blow your mind, but it is an awesome demonstration to see!