Intro to Photosynthesis

What is Photosynthesis? 

Photosynthesis is an essential process in our ecosystem. All energy enters into our biosphere by the process of photosynthesis. Without this flow of energy from the sun, the pace of life on this planet would swiftly diminish and then virtually cease.

Photosynthesis is the process by which energy captured from sunlight is used to produce chemical energy (glucose) and oxygen. This process is carried out by organisms known as photoautotrophs, meaning they can manufacture their own food using light energy. The organisms include plants, algae, cyanobacteria, green sulfur bacteria and so on. In our ecosystem, plants are the most common.

Below is the formula for photosynthetic reactions:

 

6CO₂    +   6H₂O  —>  C₆H₁₂O₆  + 6O₂

 

Photoautotrophs absorb light and use the energy obtained to produce sugars and oxygen. The sugars are sent to different parts of the plant such as the stem, leaves, flower, seed, fruit, and roots. These sugars are essential as they provide an energy source that helps the plant to grow. The oxygen is released from the plant through tiny pores on the leaves of plants known as stomata. These pores represent the site of gaseous exchange through which carbon dioxide enters the leaf and through which oxygen exits the leaf after photosynthesis. 

A key component to this process is the light absorbing pigment known as chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light and reflects green light giving plants their colour. Chlorophyll is found in the  cellular organelles known as chloroplasts. Within the chloroplast are sac-like membranes called thylakoids The thylakoid membranes contain chlorophyll, and it is this green pigment that absorbs light energy.

Titbit: More than 250 billion metric tons of sugar are produced worldwide by the photosynthetic organisms annually.

 

For more information on photosynthesis, feel free to watch the video below.

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Do you know where on a leaf the stomata are located?

What are the two stages of photosynthesis?

References

Khan Academy. (2015). Intro to Photosynthesis. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/cellular-energetics/photosynthesis/a/intro-to-photosynthesis

Science and Technology Concepts Middle School. (2018, March 27). What is Photosynthesis. Smithsonian Science Education Center; Smithsonian Science Education Center. https://ssec.si.edu/stemvisions-blog/what-photosynthesis

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