Question

Given below is an incomplete explanation of certain biological processes/terms where a keyword has been left out. Rewrite the completed explanation by inserting the key word in the space indicated by “^”.

Photolysis is the splitting of water molecules into hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions in the presence of “^”.

Answer 1

Photolysis:

1. The biochemical process which causes the breakdown of water molecules to release hydroxide and hydrogen ions is called photolysis.
2. Photolysis is done by sunlight, absorbed by a green photosynthetic pigment called chlorophyll.
3. Photolysis leads to the release of positive and negative ions from a water molecule called hydrogen and hydroxyl ion, respectively.

${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{water}\right)\underset{\mathrm{light}}{\overset{\mathrm{Chlorophyll}}{\to }}{\mathrm{H}}^{+}(\mathrm{hydrogen}\mathrm{ion})+{\mathrm{OH}}^{-}(\mathrm{hydroxyl}\mathrm{ion})$\

Final answer:

Photolysis is the splitting of water molecules into hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions in the presence of “light.”