THE ENERGETICS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS 



57 



have shown that in photosynthesis efficiency decreases as the wave-length 

 decreases. The average values found in such experiments (31) are shown in 

 Table 5. 



TABLE 5 

 Relation between wave-length and efficiency 



§ 23 Photooxidation of Chlorophyll 



When a solution of chlorophyll in acetone is exposed to light, the pigment 

 will be decomposed by oxidation (37). By adding certain acceptors the 

 uptake of O2 may be considerably increased and the oxidative decomposition 

 of chlorophyll inhibited in compensation. The pigment still continues to 

 absorb light but the added acceptor now becomes oxidized. Gaffron (12) 

 in Warburg's institute measured the amount of Oo per cal which would be 

 transferred in such reactions after complete absorption of the radiation energy. 

 Thus, the problem is actually the determination of the efficiency r/ by means 

 of the equation 



U 



E 



(5) 



TABLE 6 

 Efficiency at various wave-lengths 



TABLE 7 

 Efficiencies at various intensities 



