Photosynthesis (Edexcel GCSE Biology: Combined Science)

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Photosynthesis

  • Photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction in which energy from sunlight is transferred to the chloroplasts in green plants
    • Green plants use this energy to make the carbohydrate glucose from the raw materials carbon dioxide and water
    • At the same time, oxygen is made and released as a waste product

  • Photosynthesis can be defined as the process by which plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light
  • Plants are
    • Autotrophs – they can make complex molecules (glucose) from simple molecules (carbon dioxide and water)
    • Producers - they can make their own food and so are the first organism at the start of all food chains
      • E.g. Plants and algae

  • Photosynthesis can be summarised in a word equation as shown below:

Photosynthesis word equation, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Word equation for photosynthesis

How plants get the materials they need, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Where do the reactants come from and where do the products go?

  • This equation can also be shown as a balanced chemical equation
    • Six carbon dioxide molecules combine with six water molecules to make one glucose molecule and six oxygen molecules

Balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

The balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis

The products of photosynthesis

  • Plants use the glucose they make as a source of energy in respiration
  • They can also use it to
    • Produce starch for storage
    • Synthesise lipids for an energy source in seeds
    • To form cellulose to make cell walls
    • Produce amino acids (used to make proteins) when combined with nitrogen and other mineral ions absorbed by roots

The fate of glucose, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

The fate of glucose molecules produced in photosynthesis

Exam Tip

If asked for the raw materials required for photosynthesis, the answer is carbon dioxide and water.Although required for the reaction to take place, light energy is not a substance and therefore cannot be a raw material.

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Lára

Author: Lára

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.