How much do you know about Photosynthesis?

The Process of Photosynthesis: Converting Sunlight into Energy

• Photosynthesis is a process in which light energy is converted to chemical energy and used to produce organic compounds.
• Photosynthetic organisms include plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.
• The chemical equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO2 + 6H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6O2.
• Photosynthesis occurs mainly within the leaves of plants, and requires carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight.
• Carbon dioxide is obtained through tiny pores in plant leaves called stomata.
• Water is obtained by the plant through the roots and delivered to the leaves through vascular plant tissue systems.
• Sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll, a green pigment located in plant cell structures called chloroplasts.
• Chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis, and contain several structures with specific functions.
• Photosynthesis occurs in two stages: the light reactions and the dark reactions.
• Light reactions occur mostly in the thylakoid stacks of the grana, where sunlight is converted to chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH.
• Dark reactions occur in the stroma, where carbon dioxide is converted to sugar using ATP and NADPH.
• Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis include carbon dioxide concentration, water availability, sunlight intensity, and the presence of chlorophyll pigment.