PHOTOSYNTHESIS

The Reactions Involved And The Structures That Carry Them Out

This site was developed as part of a first year Chemistry module at The University Of Sheffield. Here is a link to the website. If you have any questions about my site then e-mail me at cha02alc@sheffield.ac.uk

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide and water into organic chemicals. This process releases energy. Photosynthesis occurs in all green plants which are known as AUTOTROPHS. Photosynthesis also occurs in CYANOBACTERIA.

General Formula for photosynthesis:-

6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Although photosynthesis in the main is considered as a biological process, it involves many chemical reactions. These reactions need to be considered in order to fully understand how plants synthesise food for their survival and on going life processes.

This is a summary of the material covered in the following pages:

• Use of Proton Gradients to synthesise ATP
• Structure of Chloroplasts and their use in photosynthesis
• Light Absorbtion by chlorophyll and electron trasfer
• Light Reactions
• Dark Reactions
• Conversion of light into chemical energy