Photosynthesis

What is Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to
create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar.

Why is photosynthesis important?

The primary function of photosynthesis is to convert solar energy into chemical energy and
then store that chemical energy for future use. For the most part, the planet's living systems
are powered by this process. It's not particularly efficient by human engineering standards, but it
does the job.

In plants, photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts, which contain the chlorophyll. Chloroplasts
are surrounded by a double membrane and contain a third inner membrane, called the thylakoid
membrane, that forms long folds within the organelle

Photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction. This means it cannot occur without energy (from
the Sun). The light required is absorbed by a green pigment called chlorophyll in the leaves.
Chlorophyll is found in chloroplasts in plant cells , particularly the palisade and spongy
mesophyll cells .

How does photosynthesis work step by step?

It is convenient to divide the photosynthetic process in plants into four stages, each occuring in
the defined area of chloroplast;
(1) Absorption of light
(2) Electron transport leading to the reduction of NADP to NADPH
(3) Generation of ATP and
(4) conversion of Co^2 into carbohydrates (carbon fixation)

There are 2 types of reaction in Photosynthesis, and these are Light reaction and Dark
reaction.

Light reaction
The light-dependent reactions use light energy to make two molecules needed for the next
stage of photosynthesis: the energy storage molecule ATP and the reduced electron
carrier NADPH. In plants, the light reactions take place in the thylakoid membranes of
organelles called chloroplasts.

Dark reaction
Dark reaction is also called carbon-fixing reaction. It is a light-independent process in which
sugar molecules are formed from the carbon dioxide and water molecules. The dark reaction
occurs in the stroma of the chloroplast, where they utilize the products of the light reaction.