What is the process of photosynthesis?

 🌿 What Is the Process of Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy (usually from the Sun) into chemical energy stored in glucose (a type of sugar). This process also releases oxygen as a byproduct.

☀️🟢 Overall Summary of Photosynthesis:

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air
• Water (H₂O) from the soil
• Sunlight provides energy
• → Produces
• Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) for energy/storage
• Oxygen (O₂) released into the air

🔬 Where It Happens:

• In plant cells, specifically in chloroplasts
• Chloroplasts contain a green pigment called chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy, especially blue and red light

🌱 Stages of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis happens in two main stages:

🔹 1. Light-Dependent Reactions

• Location: Thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts
• Needs: Light and water

What happens:

• Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight
• Water molecules are split (photolysis) into hydrogen and oxygen
• Oxygen is released as a gas (into the atmosphere)
• Energy from light is used to create ATP and NADPH (energy carriers)

✅ Output: Oxygen (O₂), ATP, and NADPH

🔹 2. Light-Independent Reactions (Calvin Cycle)

• Location: Stroma of chloroplasts
• Needs: CO₂, ATP, NADPH
• (Note: Doesn’t require light directly, but depends on the products of the light-dependent reactions)

What happens:

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is taken from the air
• ATP and NADPH provide energy to convert CO₂ into glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆)
• Glucose can be used for energy or stored as starch

✅ Output: Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆)

🔁 Photosynthesis vs. Respiration

• Feature Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration
• Function Makes glucose Breaks down glucose
• Where Chloroplasts Mitochondria
• Inputs CO₂, H₂O, light Glucose, O₂
• Outputs Glucose, O₂ CO₂, H₂O, ATP
• Organisms Plants, algae, some bacteria All living things

🧠 Why It Matters

• Photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth:
• Provides oxygen we breathe
• Creates food for nearly all living things (directly or indirectly)
• Removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• Drives the global carbon and energy cycles