PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Student Objectives:

1. To define the term photosynthesis.

2. To explain the process of photosynthesis.
3. To write the word equation for photosynthesis.
4. To outline how plants use the products of photosynthesis.

WHAT IS PHOTOSYNTHESIS?
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants synthesize food using inorganic substances
and the energy from light.

The word PHOTOSYNTHESIS comes from two words:

PHOTO = LIGHT
SYNTHESIS = TO COMBINE COMPONENTS TO MAKE SOMETHING
Put the two together, and you have PHOTOSYNTHESIS = USING LIGHT COMBINING
COMPONENTS TO MAKE SOMETHING.
In this case, inorganic substances are combined to make food using energy from light.

THE PROCESS

Simply put, plants use the energy from light (usually sunlight) to convert carbon dioxide and
water (inorganic substances) into glucose (food). Oxygen is also produced in the process as a
by-product.

CARBON DIOXIDE

SUNLIGHT

OXYGEN

WATER
GLUCOSE
A by-product is something that just happens to get produced along with the primary product.
In other words, it is made incidentally in the making of the primary product. For example, in
sugar production, sugar is the primary product; it is what the factory intends to make. But in
the process, the factory also produces molasses. Molasses is a by-product of the sugar
manufacturing process. The factory does not intend to make it, but it just happens to get
made in the process.

Note that just because it is not intentionally produced, that does not mean it isnt important.
Molasses is important, even though it is just a by-product of sugar production. It has several
uses, in food production and in industry. In the same way, oxygen is a by-product of
photosynthesis, but its production and release into the atmosphere is how all animals and
humans have a constant supply of oxygen to breathe.

How do plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen? All green plants
contain a green pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is essential to photosynthesis, the
process cannot happen without it. Chlorophyll is what the plant uses to catch energy from
light. The plant uses this energy to take the water molecules and carbon dioxide molecules
apart. This leaves carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, and oxygen atoms. The plant then re-
combines these atoms into glucose molecules and oxygen molecules.

THE EQUATION
The entire process of photosynthesis can be represented by the following equation:
THE SITE

Photosynthesis takes place in plant organelles called chloroplasts (review handout on cell
structure. Chloroplasts are mostly found in a plants leaves.

SUMMARY
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants synthesize food using inorganic substances
and the energy from light.
Plants use the energy from light to convert carbon dioxide and water (inorganic substances)
into glucose (food) and oxygen (by-product)
The photosynthesis equation is as follows:

Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells.

A green pigment called chlorophyll, which is found in chloroplasts, is needed for
photosynthesis.