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Photosynthesis (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Biology)

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Lára Marie McIvor

Written by: Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewed by: Lucy Kirkham

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Photosynthesis

  • Green plants 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

  • The reaction requires energy which is obtained by the pigment chlorophyll trapping light from the Sun

  • So photosynthesis can be defined as the process by which plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light

  • It can be summed up in the following equation:

Examiner Tips and Tricks

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.

Photosynthesis Word Equation

Photosynthesis word equation, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Photosynthesis word equation

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

How plants get the materials they need

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    Author
    Reviewer
    Lára Marie McIvor

    Author: Lára Marie McIvor

    Expertise: Biology Lead

    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.

    Lucy Kirkham

    Author: Lucy Kirkham

    Expertise: Head of STEM

    Lucy has been a passionate Maths teacher for over 12 years, teaching maths across the UK and abroad helping to engage, interest and develop confidence in the subject at all levels.Working as a Head of Department and then Director of Maths, Lucy has advised schools and academy trusts in both Scotland and the East Midlands, where her role was to support and coach teachers to improve Maths teaching for all.