2006-10-11 03:54:13 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
simple terms, photosynthesis is:
6carbon dioxide+6water=6glucose molecules+6oxygen in the presence of sunlight.
the whole process involves the transfer of light energy into chemical potential energy via 3 processes
1) capturing of light: by chloroplast pigments e.g.chlorophyll, xantophyll, carotene
2) light dependent reaction: in which light energy is turned into chemical potential energy as an electron flow is created due to the effect of light on the chlorplast pigments. at the same time water splits into H+ and OH-...
3)light independent reaction: in which the H+ ions are used to reduce carbon dioxide to produce sugars such as glucose.
hope thats useful...tried to simplify it
2006-10-11 08:10:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just a comment on some of the previous answers, glucose is formed during photosynthesis from carbon dioxide. Respiration is the process when glucose is broken down.
So on to your question. You need to look up chlorophyll, light independent and light dependent reactions and photosystems to really understand this. Very basically there are two steps to photosynthesis The light dependent step where chlorophyll absorbs light (energy transfer), this causes loss of an electron which passes down an electron transport chain (each step being an energy transfer) forming ATP and NADPH, these molecules are used as energy by cells (also energy transfer). The other half of the reaction is the light independent step where CO2 is used to make three carbon sugars which then form glucose thus storing energy (I suppose you could say this was a form of energy transfer too) for the plant to use. (The Calvin-Benson cycle).
Hope this helps.
2006-10-11 12:00:57 · answer #2 · answered by Ellie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A theoretical model is presented to account for the physical mechanism of energy transfer from antenna molecules to the reaction centers in photosynthesis. The energy transfer is described by a generalized transport equation or "master equation". The solution of this equation for the proposed model gives a relationship between the antennae interaction energy and the transfer rate. The results are shown to be in agreement with inter-antenna transfer rates calculated from experimental fluorescence lifetimes. Previous theories were based either on the Forster mechanism, which is valid for very small interaction energies, or an exciton model valid for very large interactions, but experimental results seemed to indicate that the actual situation was intermediate between these two. The Forster theory and the exciton model are limiting cases of the master equation.
2006-10-11 11:03:03 · answer #3 · answered by thirstypatty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just one? There are many. One of the first takes place in Photosystem II in which the P680 chlorophyll molecule is excited and then transfer the energy by electron coupling to plastoquinone and then to cytochrome b6f. There are some intermediate involved but these are the major players.
2006-10-11 11:06:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go for the obvious one whereby the energy of the incident light is absorbed by chlorophyll.
2006-10-11 11:25:06 · answer #5 · answered by RATTY 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sunlight+ glucose+ water =carbon dioxide +water
2006-10-11 11:05:26 · answer #6 · answered by Wobs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sunlight.~sugar~chloraphyll~oxygen? It's been years! It won't allow the whole word..."oxygen"
2006-10-11 11:03:12 · answer #7 · answered by All 4 JR 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sunlight + glucose = oxygen (i think)
2006-10-11 10:55:50 · answer #8 · answered by Helen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋