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Photosynthesis

  • Photosynthesis is the process used by plants to convert light     energy which usually comes from the sun into chemical energy that can be used by the plant and its' predators.

  • This process is performed by the chloroplast organelle in the plants' cells.

  • 2n CO2 + 2n DH2 + photons → 2(CH2O)n + 2n DO

  • Carbon dioxide + electron donor + light energy → carbohydrate + oxidized electron donor

In oxygenic photosynthesis water is the electron donor and, since its hydrolysis releases oxygen, the equation for this process is:

2n CO2 + 4n H2O + photons → 2(CH2O)n + 2n O2 + 2n H2O

carbon dioxide + water + light energy → carbohydrate + oxygen + water

The plant gets all of the components for the reaction from the environment surrounding it. The water comes from the ground and is absorbed in the roots and the carbondioxide comes from the air. The photons or light energy usually comes from the sun.

 

The carbohydrates that are produced during this process are used for construction and cellular respiration.

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