Photosynthesis (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)): Revision Note

Photosynthesis

• Plants convert light energy into stored chemical energy during the process of photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis can be defined as:

The process by which plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light

• The raw materials needed for photosynthesis are carbon dioxide and water

• The reaction requires energy which is obtained when the pigment chlorophyll traps light energy from the Sun

Photosynthesis Word Equation

• Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction that occurs inside some plant cells

• The word equation for photosynthesis is:

• The reactants in the chemical reaction of photosynthesis are carbon dioxide and water

  • Carbon dioxide diffuses into leaves from the surrounding air

  • Water is absorbed from the soil by plant roots

• The products are glucose and oxygen

  • Glucose is a store of chemical energy that can be used by the plant

  • Oxygen is released as a waste product

Plants extract raw materials from the environment and produce glucose and oxygen