3 Biology -- Photosynthesis

The source of oxygen in photosynthesis is the water but not the carbon dioxide. Explain with reasons. Briefly describes the hill reaction.

The source of oxygen in photosynthesis is the water but not the carbon dioxide. Explain with reasons. Briefly describes the hill reaction.

 In photosynthesis, the source of oxygen is indeed water, but carbon dioxide (CO2) also plays a crucial role, the process and clarify the relationship between water and carbon dioxide in photosynthesis.


Photosynthesis is the biochemical process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose. It occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, specifically in the thylakoid membranes.


During the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, also known as the Hill reaction, light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll and other pigments present in the thylakoid membranes. This energy is then used to split water molecules (H2O) into hydrogen ions (H+), electrons (e-), and molecular oxygen (O2).


The reaction can be represented as follows:

2H2O + 2NADP+ + 3ADP + 3Pi + light energy → O2 + 2NADPH + 3ATP


The water molecules are the source of the oxygen released during photosynthesis. Water molecules provide the necessary electrons to replace the ones lost by chlorophyll when it absorbs light energy. This process is called photolysis, and it occurs in a complex called the Photosystem II (PSII).


In addition to water, carbon dioxide (CO2) is also an essential component of photosynthesis. During the light-independent reactions, also known as the Calvin cycle or dark reactions, carbon dioxide is incorporated into organic molecules to produce glucose. This process occurs in the stroma of the chloroplasts and utilizes the energy and reducing power (NADPH and ATP) generated during the light-dependent reactions.


The overall equation for photosynthesis can be summarized as:

6CO2 + 12H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O


As you can see, both water and carbon dioxide are involved in photosynthesis. Water is the source of oxygen, released as a byproduct, while carbon dioxide is the source of carbon atoms that are used to build glucose molecules.


So, to clarify, both water and carbon dioxide play essential roles in the process of photosynthesis, with water serving as the source of oxygen and carbon dioxide as the source of carbon atoms for glucose synthesis.

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