Easy Explanation of the Photosynthesis Process

Plants convert solar energy into a more usable energy---sugar---through photosynthesis.

During photosynthesis, plants combine water and carbon dioxide along with energy from the sun to create food. Plants are among the few living organisms capable of synthesizing the food they need rather than consuming other organisms to survive.

Water

Roots absorb water from the ground and send much of it to leaves where photosynthesis takes place. Water is transported through the plant by a tissue system called xylem.

Carbon Dioxide

Microscopic openings in the plant, called stomata, absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Carbon dioxide is present in the atmosphere as a byproduct of decaying organic matter and from the exhalation of animals.

Light and Pigments

Chlorophyll is a special pigment in leaves that is responsible for absorbing light energy from the sun, a crucial energy source.

Photosynthesis Process

Through a complex series of chemical reactions inside leaves, the plant uses the sun's energy to break down water and carbon dioxide, then reassemble the atoms into glucose molecules. In the process, six water molecules and six carbon dioxide molecules are combined to make one glucose molecule and six oxygen molecules. The plant releases oxygen into the atmosphere and either consumes the food to fuel growth and photosynthesis, or stores it for winter.

References

• Western Michigan University: But What IS Photosynthesis?
• Estrella Mountain Community College: Photosynthesis
• School City of Hobart: Photosynthesis (the big picture)