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What is photosynthesis?
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Solution
Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy to chemical energy and storing it in the bonds of sugar. This process occurs in plants and some algae (Kingdom Plantae). Plants need only light energy, CO2 and H2O to make sugar. The process of photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts, specifically using chlorophyll, the green pigment involved in photosynthesis.The mesophyll cells have chloroplasts and this is where photosynthesis occurs.
The overall chemical reaction involved in photosynthesis is:
6CO2+6H2O(+light energy)−−−−−−>C6H12O8+602
This is the source of the O2 we breathe, and thus, a significant factor in the concerns about deforestation. There are two parts to photosynthesis. They are called the light reaction and the dark reaction.
1) Light reaction happens in the thylakoid membrane and converts light energy to chemical energy. This chemical reaction must, therefore, take place in the presence of light. Chlorophyll and several other pigments such as beta-carotene are organized in clusters in the thylakoid membrane and are involved in the light reaction.
2) Dark reaction takes place in the stroma within the chloroplast, and converts CO2 to sugar. This reaction doesn’t directly need light, but it does need the products of the light reaction (ATP and another chemical called NADPH). The dark reaction involves a cycle called the Calvin cycle in which CO2 and energy from ATP are used to form sugar.
The overall chemical reaction involved in photosynthesis is:
6CO2+6H2O(+light energy)−−−−−−>C6H12O8+602
This is the source of the O2 we breathe, and thus, a significant factor in the concerns about deforestation. There are two parts to photosynthesis. They are called the light reaction and the dark reaction.
1) Light reaction happens in the thylakoid membrane and converts light energy to chemical energy. This chemical reaction must, therefore, take place in the presence of light. Chlorophyll and several other pigments such as beta-carotene are organized in clusters in the thylakoid membrane and are involved in the light reaction.
2) Dark reaction takes place in the stroma within the chloroplast, and converts CO2 to sugar. This reaction doesn’t directly need light, but it does need the products of the light reaction (ATP and another chemical called NADPH). The dark reaction involves a cycle called the Calvin cycle in which CO2 and energy from ATP are used to form sugar.
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