The light independent (LI) reactions of photosynthesis take place in the stroma while the light dependent (LD) reactions happen in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts. LD reactions need the presence of photons to occur while LI reactions need the materials produced in the LD reactions. The LD reactions generate NADPH and ATP needed for the LI reactions while the LI reactions produce the famous products of photosynthesis, oxygen and glucose.
Both pigments contain alternating single and double bond chains. The electrons accountable for the double bonds allow both to absorb light. Chlorophyll greatly absorbs the red and violet lights and reflects green light. Carotenoid strongly absorbs blue light thus reflecting the ROY colors. Chlorophyll absorbs light needed for photosynthesis while carotenoid absorbs the excess light that might damage …show more content…
It is joined with a 5-carbon molecule (RuBP) by the enzyme RuBisCO. This will form an unstable 6-carbon molecule that will split into 2 3-carbon molecules called phosphoglycerates (PGAs). The products of the light dependent reactions will then transmit energy and attach one hydrogen molecule to each of the PGAs thus converting them into two Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) molecules. Since there are 6 molecules of CO2, the process will be repeated 5 more times. Two G3Ps will form the glucose and the rest will return to the pathway, regenerating into RuBP thus making it a