IGCSE Biology
2026 - 2028
Syllabus Checklist
Topic 6: Plant Nutrition
1 Photosynthesis
Describe photosynthesis
as the process by which plants synthesise carbohydrates
from raw materials using light energy
.
State the word equation
for photosynthesis: carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen
(in the presence of light and chlorophyll
).
State that chlorophyll
is a green pigment found in chloroplasts
.
State that chlorophyll
transfers energy from light into chemical energy for the synthesis of carbohydrates
.
State the balanced chemical equation
for photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
.
Outline the use and storage
of carbohydrates made in photosynthesis:
▪ Starch
– energy store
▪ Cellulose
– builds cell walls
▪ Glucose
– used in respiration
▪ Sucrose
– transport in phloem
▪ Nectar
– attracts pollinators
Explain the importance of mineral ions:
▪ Nitrate
– for making amino acids
▪ Magnesium
– for making chlorophyll
Investigate the need for chlorophyll
, light
, and carbon dioxide
for photosynthesis, using appropriate controls.
Investigate and describe the effects of varying light intensity
, carbon dioxide concentration
, and temperature
on the rate of photosynthesis
.
Investigate and describe the effect of light and dark
conditions on gas exchange
in an aquatic plant using hydrogencarbonate indicator
.
2 Leaf Structure
State that most leaves have a large surface area
and are thin
, and explain how these are adaptations for photosynthesis.
Identify in diagrams/images the structures in a dicot leaf: chloroplasts
, cuticle
, guard cells
, stomata
, epidermis
(upper and lower), palisade mesophyll
, spongy mesophyll
, air spaces
, vascular bundles
, xylem
, and phloem
.
Explain how the structures listed adapt leaves for efficient photosynthesis
.
Identify and explain the limiting factors
of photosynthesis under different environmental conditions.
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