Biology

Photosynthesis in Plants

1,492 Questions

Photosynthesis is the biological process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy. This page contains practice questions covering essential topics like chlorophyll, light reactions, and the pathways specific to plants. This material is crucial for medical entrance exams and academic assessments.

Chlorophyll and pigmentsLight reactionsCalvin cycleCAM plantsElectron transportPhotosynthesis factors

Photosynthesis in Plants Questions

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

Splitting of water is associated with 

  1. Photosystem I

  2. Lumpen of thylakoid

  3. Both photosystem I and II

  4. Inner surface of thylakoid membrane.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Light reaction occur inside the thylakoids, especially those of grana region. It involves two types of reaction photosynthesis of water and production of assimilation power.  The phenomenon of breaking up of water into hydrogen and oxygen in the illuminated chloroplasts is called photolysis or photocatalytic , splitting of water, Water splitting complex is associated with the PSII, which itself is physically located on the inner surface of thylakoid  membrane. 
$4H _{2} O \rightleftharpoons 4H^{+} + 4OH^-$
$ 4OH^- \xrightarrow[Mn^{2+}, Ca^{2+}, Cl^-]{Oxygen \,\,evolving\,\, complex} 2H _{2} + O _{2}\uparrow + 4e^- $ , So, the correct answer is 'inner surface of thylakoid membrane.'.

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

Which statement regarding cycling flow of electrons during light reactions is false

  1. PS II is not involved in the process.

  2. ATP synthesis takes place

  3. $NADP + H^+$ is synthesised
  4. Takes place only when light of wavelength beyond 680 nm is available for excitation

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Cycling flow of electrons during light reactions is known as cyclic photophosphorylation. It is performed by photosystem I independently. PS II is not involved in the process. In PS I, the reaction centre chlorophyll a has an absorption peak at 700 nm, hence is called $P _{700}$, while in PS II, reaction centre has an absorption maxima at 680 nm and is called $P _{680}$. As cyclic photophosphorylation requires only PS I, so it takes place only when light of wavelength beyond 700 nm is available for excitation. This process takes place in stroma lamellae membrane. An external source of electrons is not required. There is no evolution of oxygen takes place because it is not connected with photolysis of water. Cyclic photophosphorylation produces ATP only. It operates under low light intensity, anaerobic conditions or when $CO _{2}$ availability is low. When only PS I is functional, the electron is circulated within the photosystem and the phosphorylation occurs, due to cyclic flow of electrons. The membrane and lamella of the grana have both PS I and PS II, the stroma lamella membrane lack PS II as well as NADP reductase enzyme. The excited electron does not pass on to $NADP^{+}$ and is cycled back to the PS I complex through the electron transport chain.

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

Splitting of water is associated with 

  1. Photosystem I

  2. Lumen of thylakoid

  3. Both photosystem I and II

  4. Inner surface of thylakoid membrane

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Splitting up of water or photolysis is associated with Photosystem 2 and this photosystem 2 is present only in the membrane of thylakoids. 

So,  the right answer is 'inner surface of thylakoid membrane'.

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

Light energy is mainly used in photosynthesis for :-

  1. Spliting of $H _2 O $
  2. For $CO _2$ reduction
  3. Activation of reaction centre to emerge $e^-$
  4. NADPH formation

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The photolysis of water (H2O) in the light reactions of photosynthesis occurs in the water-splitting complex of photosystem II embedded in thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts where light is used to split water molecules as represented by the following equation:

2H2O → 4H+ + 4e- + O2

Oxygen (O2) is liberated to the atmosphere as a waste product in this process. In this way, electrons (e-) are gained to replace those lost through photoexcitation from chlorophyll a in the reaction center of photosystem II which begins noncyclic photophosphorylation.

In the light reactions, electrons lost by chlorophyll are used to generate ATP for energy, and to reduce NADP to use as a reducing agent in the Calvin cycle where monosaccharides are fixed from atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and used by the plant for structure and energy.

So the correct option is 'Spliting of H2O'.
Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

The important role of PS-II in photosynthesis is

  1. To cause photolysis of water

  2. To release energy

  3. To trap and assimilate $CO _2$
  4. To reduce NAD to NAD$H _2$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The photolysis of water occurs during light reaction. The site for occurrence of photolysis is thylakoid lumen. The photolysis of water releases protons which accumulate in the lumen and contribute to the electrochemical gradient of protons. The electrons released are used up to fill the electron hole in the reaction centre of PSII and oxygen molecule is released as by product of photosynthesis. The electrons released during photolysis of water are ultimately used to synthesize the reducing power for reducing carbon dioxide later on. The mineral ions required for photolysis of water are calcium, manganese and chlorine. 

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

What occurs during the light reaction of photosynthesis?

  1. Chlorophyll is produced

  2. Water splits to form $2H^+$ and $O _{2}$
  3. $CO _{2}$ is given off as a waste
  4. Sugar is formed from $CO _{2}$ and water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The photolysis of water occurs during light reaction. The site for occurrence of photolysis is thylakoid lumen. The photolysis of water releases protons, which accumulate in the lumen and contribute to the electrochemical gradient of protons. The electrons released are used up to fill the electron hole in the reaction centre of PSII and oxygen molecule is released as by product of photosynthesis. The electrons released during photolysis of water are ultimately used to synthesize the reducing power for reducing carbon dioxide later on. The mineral ions required for photolysis of water are calcium, manganese and chlorine. 

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

Photolysis is related to 

  1. Calvin cycle

  2. H.S.K. cycle

  3. Cyclic photophosphorylation

  4. Non cyclic flow of electrons

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Photolysis means splitting of water in presence of sunlight. During photosynthesis, light reaction occurs in chloroplasts. In light reaction the water is oxidised and the electrons from water are passed on through a series of electron acceptors and ultimately used to reduce NADP. Since electrons from water molecule are never returned or cycled back, this process is called as non cyclic flow of electrons. It involves PS-II and PS-I both.

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

Photochemical reaction taking place in the chloroplasts is directly involved in the 

  1. Fixation of carbon dioxide.

  2. Synthesis of glucose and starch.

  3. Formation of phosphoglyceric acid.

  4. Photolysis of water and phoshorylation of ADP to ATP.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Chloroplasts contain light trapping chlorophyll molecules. The chlorophyll molecules are an essential requirement for light reaction. The light energy is trapped by chlorophyll molecules for carrying out photolysis of water i.e., light dependent split of water molecules and photophosphorylation i.e., light dependent synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by phosphorylation of adenosine diphosphate (ADP).

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

Which element is essential for photolysis of water?

  1. Nitrogen

  2. Chlorine

  3. Carbon

  4. Oxygen

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Photolysis of water refers to the light dependent split of water, which occurs during the light phase of photosynthesis in the chloroplast. The minerals essential for the process of photolysis are calcium, chlorine and manganese.

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

Oxygen released during photosynthesis comes from

  1. Water

  2. Carbon dioxide

  3. Chloroplast

  4. Chlorophyll

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Photolysis takes place in the light dependent reaction of the photosynthesis. The reaction can be represented as:
H$ _2$O + 2 photons --> 2 e$^-$ + 2H$^+$ + O. 
Here, the electrons released are accepted by the photosystem to fulfill the electron gap. The last electron acceptor is the oxygen and thus, the oxygen is liberated from the water molecule. The experiments conducted by Samuel Ruben and Martin Kamen by using radioactive isotopes helped to prove that the oxygen liberated during photosynthesis came from photolysis the water.
Thus, the correct answer is option A.
Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

In photosynthesis, there is an (a)

  1. Reduction of $H _{2}O$.
  2. Oxidation of $H _{2}O$.
  3. Oxidation of $CO _{2}$.
  4. Oxidation of $NO _{2}$.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The process of photosynthesis occurs in two stages light reaction and dark reaction. The light reaction involves oxidation of water (photolysis i.e., light dependent splitting of water), which releases oxygen as a by product. The photolysis of water also releases electrons, which are used to drive electron flow in the thylakoid membrane ultimately this electron flow results in the synthesis of ATP and $NADPH _2$. These products ATP and $NADPH _2$ are used up subsequently in the process of dark reaction.

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

The source of $O _{2}$ liberated in photosynthesis in green plants is

  1. Photosynthetic enzyme

  2. Carbohydrate present in leaf

  3. Water

  4. Carbon dioxide

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When the chlorophyll molecule is excited by light, the energy level of an electron in its structure is boosted to a higher energy level and this excited chlorophyll moves rapidly the reaction center of the photosystem I where it transfers its extra energy to an electron which is then expelled from the reaction center and is accepted by the first member of a chain of electron carriers and ultimately reaches NADP$^+$, reducing it to NADPH. The reaction center has lost an electron and this electron hole is filled by stripping electrons from water which leaves hydrogen ion (H$^+$) and molecular oxygen (O$ _2$). The pathway of electrons from water to NADP$^+$ has Z shape called as Z scheme. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice botany photosynthesis modern concept of photosynthesis photosystems photosynthesis in higher plants

Photolysis of water involves

  1. Excitement of water

  2. Evolution of oxygen

  3. Breakdown of water by light

  4. Splitting of water into its ions, $H^+$ and $OH$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Photolysis, as the name suggests, is the breakdown of water in the presence of sunlight to form H⁺ and  O₂ and electron. This takes place during the light phase of photosynthesis in the PS-II. This creates the oxygen which is the net product of photolysis.

So, the correct option is 'Breakdown of water by light'