Introduction
Organisms need energy to survive. Some organisms are capable of absorbing energy from sunlight and using it to produce sugar and other organic compounds such as lipids and proteins. The sugars are then used to provide energy for the organism. This process, called photosynthesis, is used by plants and some protists, bacteria, and blue-green algae.
Photosynthesis is not a single chemical reaction, but rather a set of chemical reactions. The overall reaction is:
6CO2 + 12H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
The reactions of photosynthesis can be categorized as light-dependent reactions and dark reactions.
Task
Define photosynthesis.
What materials are required for photosynthesis? What is produced?
Write the overall reaction for photosynthesis.
What types of plants are capable of photosynthesis?
Energy is released from ATP when ____? Photosynthesis uses sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into___?
Where do the light-dependent reactions take place?
Process
The process of photosynthesis is conveniently divided into two parts: the energy‐fixing reaction (also called the light reaction) and the carbon‐fixing reaction (also called the light‐independent reaction, or the dark reaction).
Since photosynthesis requires carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight, all of these substances must be obtained by or transported to the leaves. Carbon dioxide is obtained through tiny pores in plant leaves called stomata. Oxygen is also released through the stomata. Water is obtained by the plant through the roots and delivered to the leaves through vascular plant tissue systems. Sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll, a green pigment located in plant cell structures called chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis.
Conclusion
In essence, photosynthesis makes sugar (glucose), which is enery, for autotrophic plants. Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy, normally from the sun, into chemical energy that can be later released to fuel the organisms' activities