Ch 10: Campbell Biology Chapter 10: Photosynthesis
About This Chapter
How It Works:
- Identify the lessons in the Campbell Biology Photosynthesis chapter with which you need help.
- Find the corresponding video lessons with this companion course chapter.
- Watch fun videos that cover the photosynthesis topics you need to learn or review.
- Complete the quizzes to test your understanding.
- If you need additional help, rewatch the videos until you've mastered the material or submit a question for one of our instructors.
Students will learn:
- The process of photosynthesis
- The structure of chloroplasts
- The function of chlorophyll
- Light reactions of photosynthesis
- Dark reactions of photosynthesis
- Plants' alternative methods of carbon fixation
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1. Photosynthesis: Biology Lab
Plants and other organisms that have the pigment chlorophyll can do something that no other living creature can - capture light energy from the sun and use it to make chemical energy through photosynthesis. In this lab, we'll see how we can set up an experiment to measure the rate of this important process.

2. Chloroplast Structure: Chlorophyll, Stroma, Thylakoid, and Grana
In this lesson, we'll explore the parts of the chloroplast, such as the thylakoids and stroma, that make a chloroplast the perfect place for conducting photosynthesis in plant cells.

3. Chlorophyll: Absorbing Light Energy for Photosynthesis
Plants are clean, green, photosynthesizing machines. Using a specialized pigment called chlorophyll, plants are able to soak up energy from the sun and turn it into food. In this lesson, we'll start to learn why chlorophyll literally gets excited about a sunny day!

4. Photolysis and the Light Reactions: Definitions, Steps, Reactants & Products
In this lesson, we'll learn how electrons get excited during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, jumping off photosystem reaction centers like they were trampolines! In addition, we'll learn how the splitting of water creates reactants for this part of photosynthesis while creating a little fresh air for us.

5. Dark Reactions of Photosynthesis: The Calvin-Benson Cycle
Photosynthesis starts out using the energy from sunlight to get things started, but it ends with the dark reactions, which don't need sunshine to complete sugar production. In the Calvin cycle, ATP and NADPH from the light reactions are used to produce sugars.

6. Alternative Methods of Carbon Fixation in Plants
What happens to plants when it gets too hot or dry for the normal cycles of creating energy to keep functioning? In this lesson, we are going to check out a couple alternative solutions adapted by plants to maintain energy production when the need arises.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the Campbell Biology: Online Textbook Help course
- Campbell Biology Chapter 1: The Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry
- Campbell Biology Chapter 2: The Chemical Context of Life
- Campbell Biology Chapter 3: Water and Life
- Campbell Biology Chapter 4: Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
- Campbell Biology Chapter 5: The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules
- Campbell Biology Chapter 6: A Tour of the Cell
- Campbell Biology Chapter 7: Membrane Structure and Function
- Campbell Biology Chapter 8: An Introduction to Metabolism
- Campbell Biology Chapter 9: Cellular Respiration and Fermentation
- Campbell Biology Chapter 11: Cell Communication
- Campbell Biology Chapter 12: The Cell Cycle
- Campbell Biology Chapter 13: Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
- Campbell Biology Chapter 14: Mendel and the Gene Idea
- Campbell Biology Chapter 15: The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
- Campbell Biology Chapter 16: The Molecular Basis of Inheritance
- Campbell Biology Chapter 17: Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein
- Campbell Biology Chapter 18: Regulation of Gene Expression
- Campbell Biology Chapter 19: Viruses
- Campbell Biology Chapter 20: DNA Tools and Biotechnology
- Campbell Biology Chapter 21: Genomes and Their Evolution
- Campbell Biology Chapter 22: Descent With Modification: A Darwinian View of Life
- Campbell Biology Chapter 23: The Evolution of Populations
- Campbell Biology Chapter 24: The Origin of Species
- Campbell Biology Chapter 25: The History of Life on Earth
- Campbell Biology Chapter 26: Phylogeny and the Tree of Life
- Campbell Biology Chapter 27: Bacteria and Archaea
- Campbell Biology Chapter 28: Protists
- Campbell Biology Chapter 29: Plant Diversity I
- Campbell Biology Chapter 30: Plant Diversity II
- Campbell Biology Chapter 31: Fungi
- Campbell Biology Chapter 32: An Overview of Animal Diversity
- Campbell Biology Chapter 33: An Introduction to Invertebrates
- Campbell Biology Chapter 34: The Origin of Evolution of Vertebrates
- Campbell Biology Chapter 35: Plant Structure, Growth, and Development
- Campbell Biology Chapter 36: Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants
- Campbell Biology Chapter 37: Soil and Plant Nutrition
- Campbell Biology Chapter 38: Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology
- Campbell Biology Chapter 39: Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals
- Campbell Biology Chapter 40: Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function
- Campbell Biology Chapter 41: Animal Nutrition
- Campbell Biology Chapter 42: Circulation and Gas Exchange
- Campbell Biology Chapter 43: The Immune System
- Campbell Biology Chapter 44: Osmoregulation and Excretion
- Campbell Biology Chapter 45: Hormones and the Endocrine System
- Campbell Biology Chapter 46: Animal Reproduction
- Campbell Biology Chapter 47: Animal Development
- Campbell Biology Chapter 48: Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling
- Campbell Biology Chapter 49: Nervous Systems
- Campbell Biology Chapter 50: Sensory and Motor Mechanisms
- Campbell Biology Chapter 51: Animal Behavior
- Campbell Biology Chapter 52: An Introduction to the Ecology of the Biosphere
- Campbell Biology Chapter 53: Population Ecology
- Campbell Biology Chapter 54: Community Ecology
- Campbell Biology Chapter 55: Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology
- Campbell Biology Chapter 56: Conservation Biology and Global Change