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, stomatal pores of the leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Chlorophyll present in the plant cells absorbs sunlight and root hair absorbs water from the soil. All these reach chlorophyll, which utilises the Sun’s energy 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.