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Light Reaction is responsible for the conversion of energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of NADPH and ATP. It is deemed as one of the processes of photosynthesis.
- Plants are known to survive by absorbing solar energy to process photosynthesis.
- Light Reaction are also popular with the name photolysis reaction.
- The reaction takes place inside the chloroplast of the mesophyll cells.
- It depends upon the absorption of photons.
- The centre of light reaction is the thylakoid membrane.
- Photosystem II (PSII) and Photosystem I (PSI) are two types of light reaction.
- The reaction may be cyclic or non-cyclic in nature.
- The energy is created through the electron transport chain (ETC).
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Key Terms: Light Reaction, Plants, Photosynthesis, Dark Reaction, Chlorophyll, Chloroplasts, ATP, Electron Transport Chain, NADPH, Photolysis Reaction
What is Light Reaction?
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Light Reaction is giving rise to organic energy molecules, such as ATP and NADPH. It is vital for the subsequent occurrence of the dark reaction that works without the presence of sunlight.
- Light Reaction take place in the grana of chloroplasts.
- It occurs during the primary stage of photosynthesis.
- This procedure includes a chain of chemical reactions, also referred to as light-dependent reactions.
- Water is seen to be used with the release of oxygen.
- Chlorophyll actively takes part in the light reaction.
- Carotenoids are the primary pigment used in the chemical reaction.
- The energy is absorbed in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplasts.

Light Reaction
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What is Photosynthesis?
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Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy via cellular respiration that can help fuel the organism to synthesise nutrients. It is a method utilised by green plants and several other photosynthetic organisms. In a nutshell, photosynthesis in green plants generally has a green pigment, usually called chlorophyll, that goes on to produce oxygen, which is a by-product.
Photosynthesis is usually dissected into two sections, which are:
- Light Reaction: Light reaction integrates light-dependent reactions that emerge in the primary stages of photosynthesis with the presence of sunlight.
- Dark Reaction: Dark reactions, which are carbon reactions, are capable of ensuring without the presence of sunlight. It is best known for utilising the energy molecules that were earlier produced during the light reaction to synthesise food.
The chemical equation involved in the process of photosynthesis is as follows:
6CO2 + 6H2O —> C6H12O6 + 6O2
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Process of Light Reaction
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Light Reaction is a type of reaction that take place in presence of sunlight and convert solar energy into chemical energy. The working of light reaction is discussed below:
- During the process of light reaction, the elemental step includes chlorophyll.
- It absorbs the energy emitted from the sunlight and converts it to chemical energy.
- The excited pigments of chlorophyll then give their electrons up.
- Water is cleaved to release four H+ ions, four electrons and O2 to compensate for the loss of electrons.
- The lost electrons of the PSII further enter ETC.
- The electrons merge with NADP+ upon entering ETC, reducing it further to NADPH.
- A subsequent movement of electrons is utilised for the transportation of hydrogen ions.
- The transportation of ions takes place over the thylakoid membrane.
- The H+ ions are built along with the lumen and help create a layer of positive gradient.
- These H+ ions, in the presence of ATP synthase, conjoin with the ADP to further form ATP.
- Oxygen is retained as a waste product, which gets released into the atmosphere.
2H2O + 2NADP+ + 3ADP + 3Pi → O2 + 2NADPH + 3ATP
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Things to Remember
- Light reaction is a process responsible for converting the energy of the sun into chemical energy.
- NADPH and ATP are the end products produced during the reaction.
- Photosynthesis is the process of utilising the sun’s energy to convert it into chemical energy.
- It is divided into two segments: light reaction and dark reaction.
- Light reactions include the absorption of energy and taking place in photosystems.
- It is divided into two categories: Photosystem II (PSII) and Photosystem I (PSI).
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Sample Questions
Ques: Give a simple definition for Photosynthesis? (2 Marks)
Ans: Photosynthesis is usually known as a physic-chemical process that, by large, prefers using light energy for synthesising nutrients and organic compounds vital for their survival. In a nutshell, what commonly happens is that the chloroplasts align against the walls of the mesophyll cell to acquire as much incident light as possible to synthesise nutrients. The process of photosynthesis is usually dissected into two forms: light reaction and dark reaction.
Ques: Give a simple definition for Light Reaction? (2 Marks)
Ans: Light reaction is a chemically driven process involved in photosynthesis that is responsible for converting the energy of the sun into chemical energy in the form of NADPH and ATP. Light reactions are known to undergo multiple steps. The procedure includes a series of chemical reactions, often called light-dependent reactions. The light-dependent reaction usually begins taking place in the chloroplast of the mesophyll cells of the green leaves.
Ques: Differentiate between Light Reaction and Dark Reaction. (3 Marks)
Ans: Following are the differences:
| Light Reaction | Dark Reaction |
|---|---|
| Light Reaction is known to be the initial stage of photosynthesis. | Dark Reaction, however, is the second stage of photosynthesis. |
| Light Reaction is known to absorb the sun's energy in order to generate ATP and NADPH. | Dark Reaction, however, produces glucose by subsequently using the energy from ATP and NADPH that was initially generated in the light reaction. |
| It is a light dependent process. | It is a light independent process. |
Ques: Elaborate the mechanism of Light Reaction? (5 Marks)
Ans: The following are the steps of light reaction:
- The initial step includes chlorophyll absorbing the energy emitted from the sunlight and converting it to chemical energy in the appearance of electron charge carrier molecules.
- This process is held inside large protein complexes, called Photosystems, which can be forked into PSI and PSII.
- The excited chlorophyll, afterwards, gives up electrons. And to compensate for it, water is cleaved into H+ ions, electrons and O2.
- The lost electrons subsequently enter ETC and combine with NADP+, reducing it to NADPH.
- Then, the H+ ions form a positive gradient and join with ADP to produce ATP. Upon which, water gets retained.
Ques: What are the types of pigments involved in the process of photosynthesis? (3 Marks)
Ans: Photosynthesis in higher plants usually involves more than one process. In the process of Photosynthesis, chloroplasts usually align against the walls of the mesophyll cell to acquire as much incident light as possible. Photosynthesis generally has a green pigment called chlorophyll, which goes on to produce oxygen, which is a by-product. There are four pigments incorporated in the process of photosynthesis, which are
- Chlorophyll a
- Chlorophyll b
- Xanthophylls
- Carotenoids
Ques: Write a short note on the Electron Transport Chain? (3 Marks)
Ans: The electron transport chain (ETC) is a constant series of four consecutive protein complexes that involve multiple redox reactions. It forms a layer of electrochemical gradient that further steers the formation of ATP in a whole system, referred to as Oxidative Phosphorylation.
- These electron transporters, in general, are embedded against the inner membrane of mitochondria.
- It further steers electrons from NADH and FADH2 to the molecular oxygen.
- It occurs in mitochondria, with processes involving respiration and photosynthesis.
Ques: What is the function of the Antenna Complex? (3 Marks)
Ans: The primary step in the process of photosynthesis is to absorb photons by antenna molecules. The Antenna Complex is known to be a light-absorbing membrane that has a chain of proteins and chlorophyll molecules aligned in the thylakoid membrane of plants, alongside cyanobacteria as well, that allows transmission of light energy to a single chlorophyll molecule in a reaction centre of photosystem which are large protein complexes. The antenna complex has been around with several ranging pigments, like chlorophyll a and b in plants, chlorophyll c in various algae, and bacteriochlorophyll a, b, or c in bacteria.
Ques: Explain the term photosystems? (3 Marks)
Ans: Photosystems are known to have pigment molecules. Generally, photosystems are the operating units of the process involved in photosynthesis. Quite apparently, it is shaped by large complexes of proteins and light-absorbing molecules that synthesise light and act as a pivotal unit in light reactions.
Ques: Give Light Reaction Equation? (4 Marks)
Ans: Light Reaction Equation is summarised by three equations:
- When water is exposed to oxygen then oxidation of water take place.
2H2O→O2+4e−+4H+
- Reduction of NADP.
2NADP++4e−+4H+→2NADPH+2H+
- Next is synthesis of the ATP molecules
ATP→ADP+Pi
The final involved at the light reaction is as follows:
2H2O+2NADP++nADP+nPi+hv→O2+2NADPH+2H++nATP
Ques: Explain the Calvin Cycle? (3 Marks)
Ans: Calvin Cycle is a light-dependent reaction that converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen carrier into glucose. It takes place in the stroma of plant cells. The stroma is located outside the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplasts.
- Calvin Cycle is carried out during the day when NADP and ATP are present in abundance.
- It stores malic acid inside the vacuoles during the night.
- The cycle generates the triose phosphates, 3-phosphoglycerate, glyceraldehyde-3P, and dihydroxyacetone phosphate.
- The compounds are further synthesised into hexose phosphates fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 6-phosphate.
Ques: Explain the dark reaction? (3 Marks)
Ans: Dark Reaction is a type of light-independent reaction which also goes by the name carbon fixation cycle. It takes place in the chloroplast's stroma, where the energy used during the light reaction is utilized.
- In this first plant captures the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- The stomata capture the carbon dioxide.
- In this process, the hydrogen of NADPH combines with CO2 molecules.
- Glucose is the final product obtained in the dark reaction.
Ques: What is chlorophyll? (2 Marks)
Ans: Chlorophyll is a type of pigment that is responsible for imparting green colour to plants. It also helps the plant produce the required food during the process of photosynthesis. It absorbs energy with the help of plants from light. It is divided into two categories, namely chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. It absorbs the maximum amount of light in the blue portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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