Uses of glucose from photosynthesis: used to produce fat or oil for storage

Q: How do I revise Uses of glucose from photosynthesis: used to produce fat or oil for storage for GCSE?

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Q: Is this Uses of glucose from photosynthesis: used to produce fat or oil for storage guide aligned to the AQA specification?

Yes. This guide is linked to the Uses of glucose from photosynthesis: used to produce fat or oil for storage topic in the AQA GCSE specification.

Not all glucose made in photosynthesis is converted to starch.

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

What earns the marks

Some glucose from photosynthesis is used to synthesise lipids such as fats and oils for storage.
Glucose is converted into smaller carbon compounds that are used to make fatty acids and glycerol, which join to form triglycerides.
Lipids are insoluble and store more energy per gram than carbohydrates, making them efficient long-term energy stores.
Fats and oils are stored in seeds and fruits and provide energy and materials during germination before the plant can photosynthesise.
Lipid stores can be broken down and respired to release energy when the plant needs it.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Saying that glucose is directly converted into fat without intermediate steps.
Put it right: Glucose is broken down to smaller carbon compounds that are used to make fatty acids and glycerol.
Confusing fats and oils with starch.
Put it right: Fats and oils are lipids, whereas starch is a carbohydrate, and lipids store more energy per gram.
Stating that lipids are stored only in leaves.
Put it right: Lipids are stored mainly in seeds and fruits, where they act as an energy reserve for germination.

Exam tips

Use the terms fatty acids and glycerol when describing lipid synthesis from glucose.
Compare lipids with carbohydrates by stating that lipids store more energy per gram, which is useful for long-term storage.
Link lipid storage in seeds to germination, when the young plant cannot yet photosynthesise.

Try the lesson

The start of the Uses of glucose from photosynthesis: used to produce fat or oil for storage lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

Have a go first

Some of the glucose made in photosynthesis is used to produce fat or oil. What is this fat or oil used for in the plant?

Tip: press 1 to 4 to choose

Listen

Not all glucose made in photosynthesis is converted to starch. Some glucose is used to produce lipids, including fats and oils, which the plant stores as an energy reserve. Glucose is first broken down to smaller carbon compounds, and these are combined to make fatty acids and glycerol; the fatty acids and glycerol are then joined to form triglycerides. Lipids are insoluble and store more energy per gram than carbohydrates, so they are useful for long-term storage, especially in seeds and fruits. They also provide a source of energy and materials when the seed germinates before the young plant can photosynthesise. This links the products of photosynthesis to lipid synthesis, storage in seeds, and respiration during germination. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Some glucose from photosynthesis is used to synthesise lipids such as fats and oils for storage. Glucose is converted into smaller carbon compounds that are used to make fatty acids and glycerol, which join to form triglycerides. Lipids are insoluble and store more energy per gram than carbohydrates, making them efficient long-term energy stores. Fats and oils are stored in seeds and fruits and provide energy and materials during germination before the plant can photosynthesise. A common slip: Saying that glucose is directly converted into fat without intermediate steps. Instead, glucose is broken down to smaller carbon compounds that are used to make fatty acids and glycerol. Exam tip: Use the terms fatty acids and glycerol when describing lipid synthesis from glucose.

See it

A top-down flowchart. The first box, glucose from photosynthesis, leads to a box for broken down to smaller carbon compounds. This splits into two boxes, fatty acids and glycerol, which both lead into a box for triglycerides. Triglycerides lead to a box for fats and oils stored in seeds and fruits. From this storage box, two arrows lead out: one to a box for broken down and respired to release energy when needed, and one to a box for energy and materials during germination before photosynthesis. — It shows how glucose from photosynthesis is converted via smaller carbon compounds into fatty acids and glycerol, joined as triglycerides, stored as fats and oils in seeds and fruits, and later used for energy.

Label the diagram

Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The first box, glucose from photosynthesis, leads to a box for broken down to smaller carbon compounds. This splits into two boxes, fatty acids and glycerol, which both lead into a box for triglycerides. Triglycerides lead to a box for fats and oils stored in seeds and fruits. From this storage box, two arrows lead out: one to a box for broken down and respired to release energy when needed, and one to a box for energy and materials during germination before photosynthesis.

1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3

0 of 3 labelled

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