Question

(c) Explain the mechanism of photosynthesis.

Answer 1

The process of photosynthesis takes place in the green leaves of a plant.

• Carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight are utilised in the presence of chlorophyll to form glucose, oxygen is evolved as a by-product.
• Carbon dioxide required is taken from the atmosphere into the leaves through tiny pores called stomata.
• Water is absorbed from the soil by the roots and then transported to the leaves.
• The green pigment chlorophyll present in the leaves absorbs the sunlight.
• The absorbed light energy is used in splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen and then gets converted to chemical energy.
• The carbon dioxide is reduced by hydrogen to form carbohydrates like glucose by utilising chemical energy (obtained by the transformation of light energy).
• The chemical equation of photosynthesisis:

Carbon dioxide + Water $\underset{Chlorophyll}{\overset{Sunlight}{\to }}$ Glucose + Oxygen