| Term | Definition |
|---|
| (ADP) adenosine diphosphate | molecule formed from the breaking off of a phosphate group for ATP; results in a release of energy that is used for biological reactions |
| (ATP) adenosine triphosphate | energy-storing molecule in cells composed fo an adenosine molecule, a ribose sugar and three phosphate groups; energy is stored in the molecule's chemical bonds and can be used quickly and easily by cells |
| Calvin cycle | series of reactions during the light-independent phase of photosynthesis in which simple sugars are formed from carbon dioxide using ATP and hydrogen from the light-dependent reactions |
| chlorophyll | light-absorbing pigment in plants and some protists that is required for photosynthesis; absorbs most wavelengths of light except for green |
| electron transport chain | series of proteins embedded in a membrane along which energized electrons are transported; as electrons are passed from molecule to molecule, energy is released |
| light-dependent reactions | phase of photosynthesis where light energy is converted to chemical energy in the form of ATP; results in the splitting of water and the release of oxygen |
| light-independent reactions | phase of photosynthesis where energy from light-dependent reactions is used to produce glucose and additional ATP molecules |
| NADP+ | electron carrier molecule; when carrying excited electrons it becomes NADPH |
| photolysis | reaction taking place in the thylakoid membranes of a chloroplast during light-dependent reactions where two molecules of water are split to form oxygen, hydrogen ions, and electrons |
| photosynthesis | process by which autotrophs, such as algae and plants, trap energy from sunlight with chlorophyll and use this energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into simple sugars |
| pigment | molecules that absorb specific wavelengths of sunlight |
| aerobic | chemical reactions that require the presence of oxygen |
| alcoholic fermentation | anaerobic process in which cells convert pyruvic acid into carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol; carried out by many bacteria and fungi such as yeasts |
| anaerobic | chemical reactions that do not require the presence of oxygen |
| cellular respiration | chemical process where miochondria break down food molecules to produce ATP; the three stages of cellular respiration are glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain |
| citric acid cycle | in cellular respiration, series of chemical reactions that break down glucose and produce ATP; energizes electron carriers that pass the energized electrons on to the electron transport chain |
| glycolysis | in cellular respiration, series of ananerobic chemical reactions in the cytoplasm that breaks down glucose into pyruvic acid; forms a net profit of two ATP molecules |
| lactic acid fermentation | series of anaerobic chemical reactions in which pyruvic acid uses NADH to form lactic acid and NAD+, which is then used in glycolysis; supplies energy when oxygen for aerobic respiration is scarce |
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