What is the importance of electrons in the process of photosynthesis?

Question

When I say "teh importance of electrons in photosynthesis" I know electrons are important for basically everything because they consist in every piece of matter. But, Why is it important for sunlight to excite the elctrons from H20... How do the H ions have an effect on photosynthesis? I understand the process, I just don't know the extended mechanics of it! THANKS FOR ANSWERING! YALL ARE DA BEST!

Answer 1

Light splits water. Electrons are released in the process. These electrons go down an electron transport chain in the inner membrane of the chloroplast (the thylakoid). Ultimately NADP receives the electron and is reduced to NADPH. Electrical charges moving through space = electricity. Electricity can be used to do work. The work of the electrons moving along the electron transport chain is to pump protons into the innermost compartment of the chloroplast (the thylakoid space) against their electrochermical gradient. This pH gradient acroos the inner membrane is dissipated by protons leaking out through an ATP synthase (coupling factor). Protons moving through space also = electricity. Electricity can be used to do work. In this case, the proton flow is used to make ATP. The ATP and NADPH produced in the light reactions are consumed in the Calvin Cycle which reduced CO2 to sugar.

Answer 2

Photophosphorylation is the process of converting energy from a light-excited electron into the pyrophosphate bond of an ADP molecule. This occurs when the electrons from water are excited by the light in the presence of P680. The energy transfer is similar to the chemiosmotic electron transport occurring in the mitochondria. Light energy causes the removal of an electron from a molecule of P680 that is part of Photosystem II. The P680 requires an electron, which is taken from a water molecule, breaking the water into H+ ions and O-2 ions. These O-2 ions combine to form the diatomic O2 that is released. The electron is "boosted" to a higher energy state and attached to a primary electron acceptor, which begins a series of redox reactions, passing the electron through a series of electron carriers, eventually attaching it to a molecule in Photosystem I. Light acts on a molecule of P700 in Photosystem I, causing an electron to be "boosted" to a still higher potential. The electron is attached to a different primary electron acceptor (that is a different molecule from the one associated with Photosystem II). The electron is passed again through a series of redox reactions, eventually being attached to NADP+ and H+ to form NADPH, an energy carrier needed in the Light Independent Reaction. The electron from Photosystem II replaces the excited electron in the P700 molecule. There is thus a continuous flow of electrons from water to NADPH. This energy is used in Carbon Fixation. Cyclic Electron Flow occurs in some eukaryotes and primitive photosynthetic bacteria. No NADPH is produced, only ATP. This occurs when cells may require additional ATP, or when there is no NADP+ to reduce to NADPH. In Photosystem II, the pumping to H ions into the thylakoid and the conversion of ADP + P into ATP is driven by electron gradients established in the thylakoid membrane.

Answer 3

Electrons are important in the process of photosynthesis because of they are used in the electron transport chain to convert energy to ATP.

In oxidative phosphorylation, electrons are transferred from a high-energy electron donor (e.g. NADH) to an electron acceptor (e.g. O2) through an electron transport chain. In photophosphorylation, the energy of sunlight is used to create a high-energy electron donor and an electron acceptor. Electrons are then transferred from the donor to the acceptor through another electron transport chain.

Answer 4

well electrons are cells that are charged by energy so the electron store and transfer the energy from the sun to the plant dont know if this helps but......