In: Biology
Outline (with words) the process of photosynthesis. Include the following forms of energy and molecules: sunlight; carbon dioxide; glucose (stored chemical energy); water; ATP; heat.
Photosynthesis is a key process, performed by chlorophyll containing plants and other organisms. Photosynthetic plants convert light energy to chemical energy during this process.
Plants take help of atmospheric carbon di oxide (CO2) and water along with sunlight fix the CO2 into glucose (C6H12O6).
Photosynthesis can be divided in two major parts
Light Reaction
Dark reaction
Light reaction happens in thylakoid of chloroplasts. Chlorophyll molecules absorb part of the incident sunlight and remaining light is dissipated in atmosphere as heat An electron is ejected from chlorophyll molecule after absorbance of photon. This electron travels through several electron acceptors and finally reduces NADP to NADPH and synthesis of ATP (Non cyclic photophosphorylation) also happens during electron transport. The ejected electron from chlorophyll is compensated by photolysis of water.
Dark reaction happens in stroma of chloroplast. Here, Ribulose 1,5 bis phosphate carboxylase oxygenase enzyme(RubisCO) fixes the CO2 to hlucose with the help of products of light reaction (ATP and NADPH) .