Photosynthesis Equation

Photosynthesis Equation can be represented using a chemical equation:

6CO₂ + 6H₂O ------> C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
Sunlight energy

Where:

CO₂ = carbon dioxide 
H₂O = water
Light energy is required
C₆H₁₂O₆ = glucose
O₂ = oxygen

Photosynthesis in plants

This photosynthesis equation involves several steps which involves two important sets of reactions.

What are the two important types of reactions?

This diagram explains about the light reactions occurring in Photosynthesis Equation. Observe that the sun light is needed to start the process.

The chlorophyll molecules absorb energy from the light energy (photons) that reaches a plant and hence excites the electrons. These electrons travel with an electron transport chain which further transfers this energy into the bonds of ATP (Adenosine tri phosphate) and NADPH (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). These are also known as energy currency of cells. It occurs in the grana of the chloroplasts.  These help the photosynthesis to continue in the dark reactions also, as ATP and NADPH are highly charged energy carriers which provide energy during the dark reactions.

Do the dark reactions occur in the dark or at night?

Dark reactions don’t require light. It occurs in the stroma.  The energy from ATP and NADPH as well as from other molecules such as CO₂ and H₂O form a carbohydrate called glucose. In dark reactions light is not needed as ATP provides energy and NADPH provides the electrons required to fix CO₂ into carbohydrates. This is also called Calvin Benison cycle.

Photosynthesis is a complex process to synthesise organic food materials. It is an oxidation – reduction process where water is oxidised and carbon dioxide is reduced to carbohydrates.

Role of Photosynthesis

• It sustains plant and animal life
• It feeds plants to keep them alive
• It maintains the ecological balance between plants and animals

Useful reading on this topic

These sites were really helpful in writing the content for photosynthesis Equation. The data available on these sites were really smart. It helped me to write the blog with ease and also made it more informative. Also, with the help of these sites I could take out the best data and perfect comparisons were made while writing the content. The diagrams available on these sites made it easier to explain the process, as the schematic diagrams always explain the processes in a better way.   

1. http://chem.answers.com/environment/photosynthesis-the-process-and-significance
2. http://www.livescience.com/51720-photosynthesis.html
3. http://www.eschooltoday.com/photosynthesis/introduction-to-photosynthesis.html