Photosynthesis

Converting light energy into chemical energy

 Photosynthesis
▶ Look out the window. What’s the most common color in
the nature?
▶ Most of the green we see comes from leaves. Why are
they in this color?
▶ Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make
their own food!
▶ This is a Greek-Latin word made up of photo (which
means "light") and synthesis (which means "to put
together").
▶ Do only plants make their own food?
▶ No! algae and certain bacteria make their own food
through photosynthesis as well and they are all
called producers and/or autotrophs!
 Photosynthesis Diagram
▶ Plants need carbon
dioxide, water and
sunlight to make their
food. The food they
make is called glucose.
In addition to glucose,
plants also produce
oxygen.
 Where Does Photosynthesis
Take Place?
▶ Photosynthesis takes place inside plant
cells in small things called chloroplasts
which are mostly found in the leaves.
 Let’s take a look at photosynthesis
process in detailed:
▶ Carbon dioxide from the air passes through
small pores (holes) in the leaves. These pores
are called stomata.
▶ Water is absorbed by the roots and
transported through the xylem vessels up
the stem to the leaves
▶ Sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll in the
chloroplast organelle of leaves.
▶ It is this energy that is used to split water
molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
▶ Oxygen is released from the leaves into the
atmosphere.
▶ Hydrogen and carbon dioxide are used to
form glucose/food for plants, dissolved food
is carried around the plant with phloem.
 Photosynthesis Word and Chemical
Equation
▶ Photosynthesis process can be written in a word equation as shown below.

▶ The equation below is the equation of photosynthesis but it shows the chemical
formula for carbon dioxide, water, glucose and oxygen.
 Storage and use of glucose
Glucose produced in photosynthesis may be used
in various ways by plants:

▶ Used in respiration to give the plant energy.

▶ Stored as starch in the roots for future usage.
▶ Used to make cellulose for the plant’s cell walls.
▶ Cellulose gives strength and toughness to a
plant's leaves, roots, and stems.
Why is Photosynthesis Important?
What food have you eaten in the last 24
hours.

How much of it came from plants?

 In a nutshell, the process of photosynthesis
benefits us in the following ways:
▶ 1. Photosynthesis converts  raw materials into food, that provides our
ecosystem with energy.
▶ 2. Green plants provide food to all the animals and humans.
▶ 3. Rare fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas are formed through
the degradation of the past plant and animal parts, which were originally
formed by photosynthesis.
▶ 4. Plant products like timber, rubber, herbs, medicines resin and oils are
derived from photosynthesis.
▶ 5. Photosynthesis helps in providing oxygen in the atmosphere required by
all living organisms.
▶ 6. Photosynthesis decreases the concentration of carbon dioxide and other
harmful industrial wastes that lead to respiratory problems in living beings.
Rate of photosynthesis: limiting factors
Light Intensity
Rate of photosynthesis: limiting factors
Carbon Dioxide Concentration
Rate of photosynthesis: limiting factors
Temperature
An increase in temperature usually
increases the rate of photosynthesis.
Most chemical reactions increase with
temperature. But at about 40°C the
rate slows. At temperatures above
this, the rate drops quickly. This is
because the enzymes in photosynthesis
are being destroyed.