Almost all life on Earth ultimately depends on photosynthesis, the process by which plants turn sunlight into food.
Photosynthesis combines carbon dioxide and water, using light energy and chlorophyll, to produce glucose and oxygen.
Write the overall balanced equation for photosynthesis.
6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ (using light energy and chlorophyll)
Chlorophyll, found in chloroplasts, absorbs light energy needed to drive photosynthesis. Plants need adequate light, carbon dioxide, water, and a suitable temperature to photosynthesise efficiently.
Why do plants appear green?
Because chlorophyll absorbs most other colours of light but reflects green light, which is what we see
1. What gas do plants take in for photosynthesis?
2. What gas do plants release as a byproduct of photosynthesis?
3. What pigment absorbs light energy for photosynthesis?
4. In which organelle does photosynthesis occur?
5. What sugar is produced by photosynthesis?
6. Name two raw materials needed for photosynthesis besides light.
7. Why does a plant kept in the dark for several days stop photosynthesising?
8. Why do plants appear green rather than another colour?
9. Is photosynthesis important only to plants, or to other organisms too?
10. Why might a plant growing in very cold conditions photosynthesise more slowly?