Photosynthesis

Process plants utilise to produce their own food

Take in: water and carbon dioxide
Produce: oxygen and glucose

(light energy)
carbon dioxide + water glucose + oxygen
(chlorophyll)
(light energy)
6CO
2
+ 6H
2
O C
6
H
12
O
6
+ 6O
2

(chlorophyll)
cuticle
upper epidermis
palisade
mesophyll
spongy
mesophyll
air pocket
lower epidermis
guard cell
stoma
phloem
xylem
cuticle
Carbon Dioxide - This gas enters through pores called stomata located
on the underside of the leaf. The stomata can close at night when no
photosynthesis is taking place, or during the heat of the day when the
plant is in danger of too much water evaporating from its leaves.
Water - this is absorbed by the roots and sent up to the leaves through
the xylem part of the plant's vascular tissue.
Sunlight - the sun provides the energy that makes the process run!
Phloem- Phloem vessels are involved in translocation. This is the movement of
food substances from the stems to growing tissues and storage tissues.
Xylem- Xylem vessels are involved in the movement of water through a plant
from its roots to its leaves.
Light-dependent
reaction:
-light energy
converted to
chemical energy
-water split into
oxygen and
hydrogen
H
+
O
2
CO
2
C
6
H
12
O
6
Light-independent
reaction: hydrogen
from water and
carbon dioxide
react to form
glucose
(light energy)
6CO
2
+ 6H
2
O C
6
H
12
O
6
+ 6O
2

(chlorophyll)
How do plants use glucose?
Convert into cellulose for growth
Convert to other sugars to transport to other parts of the
plant
To produce oils and proteins
Convert to starch for temporary storage in the leaf (on
sunny days when photosynthesis rate is very high)
Convert back into energy via respiration

carbon dioxide + water glucose + oxygen

= respiration!
How it works