INTEGRATED SCIENCE

JHS TWO
 LESSON 1

PHOTOSYNTHESIS
 OBJECTIVES

A pupil should be able to:

 Explain why the sun is the primary source of energy for all living things.
 Define photosynthesis and identify the factors necessary for the process.
 Write a word equation and chemical equation for the process.
 Describe how photosynthesis occurs in green plants.
 INTRODUCTION

All living things require energy to carry out their basic life processes. The primary source of
energy for living things in the ecosystem is the sun. Organisms depend of the sun directly or
indirectly for energy.
There are two main groups of organisms based on how they obtain energy. These are;
1. Autotrophic organisms (Autotrophs)
2. Heterotrophic organisms (Heterotrophs)
Autotrophs are organisms that prepare their own food by using light energy to combine
simple chemical substances in the environment. Green plants are autotrophs
Heterotrophs are organisms that are not able to prepare their own food and therefore
depend on other organisms for food. Examples are goat, cow, lion, humans, etc.
The process by which green plants prepare their own food is known as photosynthesis
 DEFINITION

Photosynthesis is defined as the process

by which green plants use energy from
sunlight to prepare their own food by
combining carbon dioxide and water to
produce glucose and oxygen gas.
WORD EQUATION FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Carbon dioxide + water Sunlight Glucose + Oxygen gas

Chlorophyll (Main product) (By- product)
CHEMICAL EQUATION FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS
 

6CO2 + 6H2O sunlight C6H12O6 + 6O2

chlorophyll
 FACTORS NECESSARY FOR
PHOTOSYNTHESIS

1. Sunlight
2. Chlorophyll
3. Water
4. Carbon dioxide
HOW PHOTOSYNTHESIS OCCURS IN PLANTS

1. Photosynthesis takes place in the leaves of plants.

2. The green pigment in the leaves of plants known as chlorophyll traps
the energy form the sun.
3. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere enters the stomata of the leaf by
diffusion.
4. Water is transported from the soil to the leaves through the root and
stem of the plant.
5. The leaves then convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and
oxygen gas using the energy from the sun.
6. The glucose produced is converted into starch and stored in various
parts of the plant.
 NB

 The starch serves as food for the plant and the organisms
that feed on plants.
 The proof of photosynthesis in a plant is the positive test
for starch in the leaf of a plant that has been exposed to
sunlight.
 RECAP

.
 QUIZ 1

1. Define photosynthesis.
2. State the conditions necessary for photosynthesis.
3. Write down the word equation for photosynthesis.
4. Name the products of photosynthesis
5. Describe how photosynthesis occurs in plants.
 THANK YOU