Conditions Needed for Photosynthesis (WJEC GCSE Biology)

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Naomi H

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Naomi H

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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

The effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

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

The effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

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

The effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

As carbon dioxide concentration increases, so does the rate of photosynthesis; this continues until another factor prevents the reaction from occurring any faster

Limiting Factors of Photosynthesis

Higher Tier Only

  • A perfect set of environmental conditions is very rare, meaning that the rate of photosynthesis is usually limited by factors in the environment
    • These factors are known as limiting factors
  • A limiting factor can be defined as:

An environmental factor that limits the rate of reaction when it is in short supply

  • The limiting factors for photosynthesis are:
    • Temperature
    • Light intensity
    • Carbon dioxide concentration
  • Note that although water is necessary for photosynthesis, it is not considered a limiting factor
    • If water availability is low enough to limit the rate of photosynthesis then the plant is likely to have closed its stomata, slowing photosynthesis due to carbon dioxide intake

Examiner Tip

Remember that when studying a graph of an environmental factor against rate of photosynthesis, any point on the graph at which the line is sloping upwards is a point at which the factor on the x axis is the limiting factor. Once the line levels off we would say that another factor has become limiting.

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Naomi H

Author: Naomi H

Expertise: Biology

Naomi graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in Biological Sciences. She has 8 years of classroom experience teaching Key Stage 3 up to A-Level biology, and is currently a tutor and A-Level examiner. Naomi especially enjoys creating resources that enable students to build a solid understanding of subject content, while also connecting their knowledge with biology’s exciting, real-world applications.