Question

(a) What is photosynthesis?
(b) Write a chemical equation to show the process of photosynthesis in plants.
(c) Explain the mechanism of photosynthesis.

Answer 1

(a) The process by which green plants use sunlight to make their own food from carbon dioxide and water is known as photosynthesis. This is done in the presence of chlorophyll.

(b) Following chemical equation shows the process of photosynthesis in plants:

6CO₂ + 6H₂O $\underset{In\mathit{}the\mathit{}presence\mathit{}of\mathit{}sunlight}{\overset{Chlorophyll}{\mathit{\to }}}$ C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Carbon dioxide Water Glucose Oxygen

(c) In green plants, photosynthesis occurs in the green plastids present in the leaves and other green parts of the plant called chloroplast. The raw materials for photosynthesis, namely carbon dioxide (enters through stomata) and water (absorbed from the soil by root hair) reach the leaves. In the leaves, the chlorophyll pigment absorbs the sunlight. This solar energy is used to combine water and carbon dioxide to form glucose and oxygen. In this way, green plants convert solar energy into chemical energy by forming carbohydrates.