Question

Describe why the amount of light available to the Chlorella culture might affect the growth dynamics of the alga.

Answer 1

Answer:

See the answer below

Explanation:

The amount of light available to Chlorella culture might affect the growth dynamics of the alga because the light is an important factor necessary for the synthesis of carbohydrates and other important molecules in the body of the organism.

The process of synthesizing carbohydrates is termed photosynthesis and during this process, the energy of light is used to excite the photosystem of the chlorophyll of the organism, leading to the release of electrons whose energy is used to synthesize an energy molecule that is utilized in the latter part of the photosynthetic process. The entire process of photosynthesis can be summarised as an equation below:

            $6CO_2 + 6H_2O + light --> C_6H_1_2O_6 + 6O_2$

The manufactured carbohydrates act as food for the organism and are broken down during respiration to release energy necessary to drive metabolic processes that bring about growth and development.

Hence, the amount of light is an important factor that might affect the growth dynamics of all green plants, including the Chlorella.