Photosynthesis Word Search

ABSORB – To take in or soak up light energy, water, or other substances. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll absorbs light energy from the sun to power chemical reactions.

ATP – Adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy currency molecule in cells. Photosynthesis produces ATP during light-dependent reactions, which cells use to fuel various biological processes and growth.

AUTOTROPH – An organism capable of producing its own food from inorganic substances using light or chemical energy. Plants, algae, and some bacteria are autotrophs that perform photosynthesis.

CARBON – A chemical element essential for life, found in carbon dioxide gas. Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it to build glucose molecules during photosynthesis.

CELL – The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms. Plant cells contain chloroplasts where photosynthesis occurs, converting light energy into chemical energy stored in sugars.

CUTICLE – A waxy, waterproof protective layer covering the outer surface of leaves and stems. It prevents water loss while allowing light to penetrate for photosynthesis in underlying tissues.

DIOXIDE – Refers to carbon dioxide, a gas containing one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Plants absorb carbon dioxide through stomata to use as raw material in photosynthesis.

ENERGY – The capacity to do work or cause change. Photosynthesis converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in glucose molecules, which organisms use for growth.

GLUCOSE – A simple sugar molecule produced during photosynthesis. It serves as the primary energy source for plants and is used to build more complex carbohydrates like starch and cellulose.

GRANA – Stacks of flattened, disc-shaped thylakoid membranes inside chloroplasts. Grana are the sites where light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis occur, capturing and converting solar energy into chemical form.

GREEN – The color reflected by chlorophyll pigments in plants. Leaves appear green because chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light wavelengths while reflecting green light back to our eyes.

LEAF – The primary photosynthetic organ of most plants, typically flat and green. Leaves are specifically adapted to maximize light absorption and gas exchange for efficient photosynthesis and energy production.

LIGHT – Electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye, essential for photosynthesis. Plants capture light energy, primarily from the sun, and convert it into chemical energy to produce glucose and oxygen.

MESOPHYLL – The internal tissue of a leaf located between upper and lower epidermis layers. Rich in chloroplasts, mesophyll cells are where most photosynthesis occurs, including palisade and spongy layers.

OXYGEN – A gas molecule released as a byproduct of photosynthesis when water molecules split. Oxygen is essential for cellular respiration in most living organisms and makes up approximately twenty-one percent.

PALISADE – The upper layer of mesophyll tissue in leaves, containing tightly packed, column-shaped cells. Rich in chloroplasts, palisade cells are optimally positioned to absorb maximum sunlight for efficient photosynthesis.

PHOTON – A particle or quantum of light energy that travels in waves. Chlorophyll molecules in plants capture photons from sunlight to initiate the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

PIGMENT – A colored molecule that absorbs specific wavelengths of light. Chlorophyll is the primary pigment in photosynthesis, absorbing red and blue light while reflecting green wavelengths to our eyes.

PLANT – A multicellular organism that performs photosynthesis to produce its own food. Plants contain chlorophyll in their cells, enabling them to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose.

STOMA – A microscopic pore on the leaf surface, surrounded by two guard cells. Stomata allow carbon dioxide to enter the leaf for photosynthesis and release oxygen and water vapor.

STOMATA – Plural of stoma; tiny pores on leaf surfaces that regulate gas exchange. Stomata open to allow carbon dioxide in for photosynthesis and close to prevent excessive water loss.

STROMA – The fluid-filled space inside chloroplasts surrounding the thylakoid membranes. The stroma contains enzymes necessary for light-independent reactions, where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose during photosynthesis.

THYLAKOID – A membrane-bound compartment inside chloroplasts where light-dependent reactions occur. Thylakoids contain chlorophyll and other pigments that capture light energy and produce ATP and NADPH for sugar synthesis.

WATER – A molecule composed of hydrogen and oxygen, essential for photosynthesis. Plants absorb water through roots and split water molecules during light reactions, releasing oxygen as a byproduct.