Question

What is photosynthesis

Answer 1

Answer:

Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's metabolic activities.

Answer 2

Required answer:-

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎It is a unique process on the earth in which green plants synthesize their food. "Photo" means light and "Synthesis" means to combine, i.e., synthesis of food in the presence of sunlight. During this process, solar energy is converted into chemical energy for food.

Chemical reaction for photosynthesis:

$\\ \underbrace{ \bf{6CO_2}}_{ \sf{Carbon \: dioxide}} + \: \: \underbrace{ \bf{6H_2O}}_{ \sf{Water}} \: \: \: \: \underset{ \sf{Chlorophyll}}{\xrightarrow{\text{ \: \: \sf{Sunlight }\: \: }}} \: \: \: \underbrace{ \bf{C_6H_{12}O_6}}_{ \sf{Carbohydrates}} + \underbrace{ \bf{6O_2}}_{ \sf{Oxygen}}$

During the process of photosynthesis, oxygen is released. The carbohydrates (glucose) ultimately get converted into starch. The presence of starch in leaves indicates the occurrence of photosynthesis. As the process of photosynthesis mainly occurs in leaves of the plant, this leaves are considered as kitchens of plant.

Let us now study in detail, about each component required in photosynthesis!

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Chlorophyll

The cells of green leaves of plants contain numerous green structures called chloroplasts. The chloroplasts are green because of the presence of a green pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll traps solar energy which is then used to synthesize food from CO₂ and water.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Carbon dioxide

Leaves take in carbon dioxide from air through tiny pores called stomata, located on leaf surface. Each stoma is surrounded by two guard cells. They control the opening and closing of stomata.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎Water and minerals

Water and minerals absorbed by the plant through root hairs are transported to the leaves by the xylem vessels, which run like pipes throughout the root, the stem, the branches and the leaves. They form a continuous path or passage for the water and nutrients to reach the leaves. Next, the food synthesized by the green leaves is transported to the other parts of the plant through phloem.

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