(iii) Photosynthesis: The process and its importance to life in general; experiments to show the necessity of light, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, formation of starch and release of oxygen; carbon cycle.
- The process and significance of Photosynthesis.
- The internal structure of chloroplast to be explained to give an idea of the site of light and dark reactions.
- Opening and closing of stomata based on potassium ion exchange theory.
- Overall balanced chemical equation to represent photosynthesis.
- Introduction of the terms "photochemical" for light phase and "biosynthetic" for dark phases.
- Light reaction - activation of chlorophyll followed by photolysis of water, release of Oโ, formation of ATP (photophosphorylation) and NADPH.
- Dark reaction - only combination of hydrogen released by NADP with COโ to form glucose. (detailed equations are not required).
- Adaptations in plants for photosynthesis.
- Experiments with regard to the factors essential for photosynthesis; emphasis on destarching and the steps involved in starch test.
- A diagrammatic representation of "carbon cycle".