Photosynthesis: The Light Dependent Reaction BROKEN DOWN

Photosynthesis in simple steps.

Photoionisation 

In the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts, there are photosystems which absorb red and blue light. This light energy excites the electrons, causing them to move out of the photosystem and into an electron transfer chain. This is called photoionisation. 

The Electron Transfer Chain

Electrons start out in photosystem 2 and once they enter the electron transfer chain, they start their journey to photosystem 1. As they pass through the electron transfer chain, the electrons lose energy which is used to transport protons from the stroma, through the thylakoid membrane into the thylakoid lumen. 

Final Electron Acceptor

Once the electrons in photosystem 1 have been excited, they reduce a co-enzyme called NADP into reduced NADP or NADPH - they both mean the same thing, so use whichever one you are most confident with. NADP is called the final electron acceptor because it accepts…