Photosynthesis is a complex biochemical process that consists of many reactions that occur in the chloroplast membranes of plants.
The process, overall, uses energy from the Sun to combine carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with water to produce glucose, which then can be used as a basis for other synthesis of other food molecules.
There are two stages of photosynthesis, the light dependent stage and the light independent stage.
In the light dependent stage, light hits chlorophyll molecules, which then emit high energy electrons. These pass through a chain of electron transfer reactions that make two molecules, ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADPH (nicotinamine adenine dinucleotide phosphate). These reactions come to an end when a water molecule is split, releasing oxygen as a bi-product.
In the second, light independent reaction, ATPand NADPH are used to power a cycle of reactions that fixes carbon dioxide and forms glucose.
The process, overall, uses energy from the Sun to combine carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with water to produce glucose, which then can be used as a basis for other synthesis of other food molecules.
There are two stages of photosynthesis, the light dependent stage and the light independent stage.
In the light dependent stage, light hits chlorophyll molecules, which then emit high energy electrons. These pass through a chain of electron transfer reactions that make two molecules, ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADPH (nicotinamine adenine dinucleotide phosphate). These reactions come to an end when a water molecule is split, releasing oxygen as a bi-product.
In the second, light independent reaction, ATPand NADPH are used to power a cycle of reactions that fixes carbon dioxide and forms glucose.