How to Learn Photosynthesis
If you ask someone to explain photosynthesis, they may answer, "the process where plants turn carbon dioxide into oxygen." For the most part, they would be right. The problem with that answer is that photosynthesis is a complex process that is vital to the existence of every living thing on the earth. By paring it down to an explanation of just a few words, it has made it seem that photosynthesis is simple and that the biological and chemical wonder is easily overlooked.
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Instructions
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Look up the word "photosynthesis" in a dictionary and learn that the word comes the Greek for "light" and "putting it together."
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Consider the benefits for photosynthesis aside from creating food for the plants. Photosynthesis is vital for all living things by maintaining the oxygen level of the atmosphere.
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Understand that in the most simple terms, photosynthesis is a process that converts carbon dioxide to oxygen but it also converts carbon dioxide into other organic compounds including sugar. All of this is accomplished by using sunlight as an energy source.
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Identify the the types of plants in which photosynthesis occurs. These plants are called "photoautotrophs" because they create their own food through photosynthesis. Become familiar with the plants, algae and types of bacteria where photosynthesis occurs.
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Understand that when photoautotrophs synthesize their own food through photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are used and oxygen is released.
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Consider that photosynthesis is as much a chemical reaction as it is a biological process. As a biological process it begins with energy from light being stored in the photosynthetic centers of the plant. Some of the energy is used to remove waste such as water and carbon dioxide, which is then released as oxygen.
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Learn the chemical process for photosynthesis: 6 CO2 + 6 H20 + (light energy) + C6H1206 + 602
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Choose an experiment and prove the principles of photosynthesis yourself.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit red and yellow fall leaves image by Laura Frenkel from Fotolia.com
