Conditions Needed for Photosynthesis
- The rate at which photosynthesis occurs is affected by several factors in the environment:
- Temperature
- Carbon dioxide
- Light intensity
- Optimal levels of these environmental factors allow photosynthesis to occur at its maximum rate, but any factor that is less-than-optimum can limit the rate of photosynthesis
Temperature
- As the temperature of the environment increases, the rate of photosynthesis also increases
- At low temperatures the kinetic energy of the molecules inside plant cells is limited, so there are few successful collisions between the photosynthesis reactants per unit of time
- Increasing temperature increases the kinetic energy of the molecules, increasing the likelihood of successful collisions, and so allowing the reaction to occur faster
- At very high temperatures the enzymes that catalyse photosynthesis can denature, meaning that the complementary shape of the active sites is lost; this causes a steep decline in the rate of photosynthesis
Temperature & photosynthesis graph
As temperature increases, so too does the rate of photosynthesis; this continues until the temperature becomes too high and plant enzymes begin to denature
Light
- The higher the light intensity, the faster the rate of photosynthesis
- This is because chlorophyll is able to absorb more light energy to power the reactions of photosynthesis
- This trend will continue until another factor prevents the rate from increasing further; such a factor could be:
- Temperature
- Carbon dioxide concentration
Light intensity & photosynthesis graph
As light intensity increases, so does the rate of photosynthesis; this continues until another factor prevents the reaction from occurring any faster
Carbon dioxide
- As carbon dioxide concentration increases, so too does the rate of photosynthesis
- Carbon dioxide is one of the raw materials required for photosynthesis
- This trend will continue until another factor prevents the rate from increasing further; such a factor could be:
- Temperature
- Light intensity
Carbon dioxide concentration & photosynthesis graph
As carbon dioxide concentration increases, so does the rate of photosynthesis; this continues until another factor prevents the reaction from occurring any faster