Chloroplast
A chloroplast is the green organelle in which photosynthesis takes place in plant cells 1. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, the green pigment that transfers energy from light into energy in chemicals, for the synthesis of carbohydrates.
Where Chloroplasts Are Found
| Cell | Chloroplasts | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Palisade mesophyll cell | Many | Main site of photosynthesis in the leaf |
| Root hair cell | Absent | Underground, so no light to absorb |
| Animal cell | Absent | Animals feed heterotrophically |
| Bacterial cell | Absent | Photosynthesis occurs in other structures |
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants synthesise carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light, with carbon dioxide and water as the raw materials 1. The carbohydrates made are used in respiration, stored as starch, built into cellulose for cell walls, or transported as sucrose.
Related
- Nutrition - Photosynthesis as a feeding mode.
- Cell - Structural unit containing chloroplasts.
- Cytoplasm - Material in which chloroplasts are suspended.
- Cell Wall - Built from cellulose made in photosynthesis.
- Biology - Cambridge IGCSE life-science area.
Footnotes
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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for examination in 2026, 2027 and 2028 - Chloroplasts in cell structure (2.1.1), palisade mesophyll cells (2.1.6), photosynthesis, chlorophyll and the fate of its products (6.1). ↩ ↩2