When do plants make sugar?

Question

It is a question that my daughter has on a Science paper

Answer 1

photosynthesis

Photosynthesis uses the energy of light to make the sugar, glucose. A simplified general equation for photosynthesis follows.

6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Carbon Dioxide + Water + Light energy → Glucose + Oxygen
Photosynthesis occurs in two stages. In the first phase light-dependent reactions or photosynthetic reactions (also called the Light reactions) capture the energy of light and use it to make high-energy molecules. During the second phase, the light-independent reactions (formerly the Dark Reactions) use the high-energy molecules to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and make the precursors of glucose.

In the light-dependent reactions the pigment chlorophyll absorbs light and loses an electron that travels down an electron transport chain producing the high energy molecules NADPH and ATP. The chlorophyll molecule regains its electron by taking one from water, a process that releases oxygen gas.

In the Light-independent or dark reactions the enzyme RuBisCO captures CO2 from the atmosphere and in a complex process called the Calvin-Benson cycle releases 3-carbon sugars which are later combined to form glucose.

Photosynthesis may simply be defined as the conversion of light energy into chemical energy by living organisms. It is affected by its surroundings and the rate of photosynthesis is affected by the concentration of carbon dioxide, light intensity and the temperature.

Answer 2

AFAIK, plants make sugar when they have enough energy in store, and not "when the sun shines". True, they can only capture energy when there is some light to excite their pigments, but in the end energy is stored in molecules of ATP, which can be used at any time, since the sugar-building reactions themselves form an independent cycle from the ones involved in energy acquisition, and the only thing they need from the light-dependent stage is energy storage molecules. The other input stuff, CO2, comes from the air outside, through the stomata (openings for gas exchange) on the leaf surface.

Some plants living in dry environment even completely split the two phases of photosynthesis: during the day, they collect light and make loads of ATP, but they keep their stomata shut, so that their precious water reserves don't evaporate in the heat. Then in the night the stomata open, letting CO2 in, and the plant uses the ATP accumulated during the day to build up its organic stuff.

Answer 3

During Photosynthesis, Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy to chemical energy and storing it in the bonds of sugar. This process occurs in plants and some algae (Kingdom Protista). Plants need only light energy, CO2, and H2O to make sugar. The process of photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts, specifically using chlorophyll, the green pigment involved in photosynthesis.

Answer 4

The leaves of green plants contain a pigment called chlorophyll, the pigment absorbs energy from sunlight, which it uses to propagate a chemical reaction that converts carbon dioxide from the air, and water into oxygen and sugar.
This process is called photosynthesis.

So the literal answer to your question is; plants make sugar when the sun shines.

Answer 5

During the process of "photosynthesis " in which CarbondiOxide gas and water reacts by using the energy provided by sunlight, inside the leaves.
Plants absorbs water from the soil which is then tranported to the leaves, the leaves absorbs Carbondioxide from the air. The energy for this reaction is provided by sun light which is trapped by green Chlophyl pigment presesent inside the chloroplast Tissues of the leave. The reaction is


sunlight
CO2 + 2(H2O) --------------------->(CH2O)+ O2+ H2O
chlorophyl


here CH2O refers To Glucose (Sugar).

Answer 6

Hello. I can tell you, that plants make sugar during they do photosynthese. To do this they need light, water and CO². After the whole process there are the products O² and sugar. I hope I have helped you. And sorry for my not so well english. I´m form Germany. =)

Answer 7

I'm not botonist, but i have taken a class or two..I would suggest you looking up the different kinds of plants...such as C4, C3..each of them has their own mechanism for "fixing sugars" which they use as energy. Some plants because of their climates only do this at night, as to prevent water loss. Hope this gives you a starting point!

Answer 8

during daylight hours, in photosynthesis. the suns energy is converted into glucose c6o6h12, which is used by the plant in respiration, or converted to starch for storage. the plant respires constantly but only photosynthesises when light is present.

Answer 9

During photosynthesis

Answer 10

When the sun shines. They make sugar during photosynthesis and for this to happen it must be daylight.