Photosynthesis Chemical Equation | Biology for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Balanced Photosynthesis Chemical Equation: Extended

• The balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis is:
  
• The light energy is converted into chemical energy in the bonds that hold the atoms in the glucose molecules together.
  • In the process of photosynthesis, light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll molecules in the chloroplasts of plant cells. 
  • This energy is then used to power a series of chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. 
  • Specifically, during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, light energy is used to split water molecules into oxygen, protons, and electrons. 
  • These electrons are then used to generate ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate), which are energy-rich molecules used in the subsequent light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle). 
  • In the Calvin cycle, ATP and NADPH are utilized to convert carbon dioxide into glucose. 
  • Thus, the light energy is ultimately stored in the chemical bonds of glucose molecules, representing a form of chemical energy that can be used by the plant for various metabolic processes.