Biology / Unit 3: Cellular Energy
3.2 Photosynthesis Overview
Notes
Photosynthesis turns light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose. It happens in chloroplasts.
- Equation: $6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} \xrightarrow{\text{light}} \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2$
- Chlorophyll is the green pigment that absorbs light. It absorbs mostly red and blue light and reflects green.
- Carbon dioxide enters leaves through small pores called stomata; water comes up from the roots.
- Oxygen is a byproduct released into the air.
Practice
What are the reactants of photosynthesis?
Plants take in CO2 and water, and use light to make glucose and oxygen.
Why do most leaves look green?
Reflected light is the color we see; chlorophyll absorbs red and blue.
Through which structures does carbon dioxide enter a leaf?
Stomata are tiny openings mostly on the underside of leaves.
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