PhotosynthesisIB MYP Biology: Mind map

Exam questions on Photosynthesis

1. A market gardener near Marrakech in Morocco grows spinach in sunny fields. The dark green spinach leaves make glucose in their cells using light energy, and the gardener wants to understand the process so that she can grow healthier plants.
   Write the balanced symbol equation for photosynthesis.2 marks
2. Potato plants grow in cool, humid highland areas of Peru. During the growing season the leaves make large amounts of glucose. By harvest time, the underground tubers of the potato plants are full of stored food, but the leaves contain very little glucose.
   Explain why the potato plants convert glucose into starch for storage in the tubers.2 marks
3. A student wants to show that chlorophyll is needed for photosynthesis. She uses a plant with variegated leaves, which have green patches and white patches. She keeps the plant in the dark for 48 hours, then in bright light for six hours. She then tests one leaf for starch with iodine solution. The green patches of the leaf turn blue-black, and the white patches stay orange-brown.
   Describe how the student should test the leaf for starch after the six hours in light.3 marks