Chapter 8
Photosynthesis
By Boundless
![Thumbnail](../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/20121/square/figure-08-01-01.jpeg)
The process of photosynthesis converts light energy to chemical energy, which can be used by organisms for different metabolic processes.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/18851/square/figure-08-01-05.jpg)
In multicellular autotrophs, the main cellular structures that allow photosynthesis to take place include chloroplasts, thylakoids, and chlorophyll.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/20122/square/figure-08-02-07ab.jpg)
Light-dependent and light-independent reactions are two successive reactions that occur during photosynthesis.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/18854/square/figure-08-02-02.jpeg)
All electromagnetic radiation, or light energy, travels at a particular wavelength and carries a certain amount of energy.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/18858/square/figure-08-02-06.jpeg)
Pigments, like chlorophyll and carotenoids, absorb and reflect light at a certain region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/18860/square/figure-08-02-08.jpeg)
Light-dependent reactions, which take place in photosystem I and II, convert solar energy into NADPH and ATP.
Some plants have evolved mechanisms to increase the CO2 concentration in their leaves under hot and dry conditions.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/18861/square/figure-08-03-01f.jpeg)
The Calvin cycle is organized into three basic stages: fixation, reduction, and regeneration.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/18864/square/figure-08-03-04.jpeg)
All organisms need energy to perform life functions, and energy that is released is reused in other ways.