what happens to the CO2 and H20 that plants absorb from the surroundings during photosynthesis?
During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and water (H2O) from the soil. These substances play a crucial role in the process of photosynthesis, which is the conversion of light energy into chemical energy to produce glucose and oxygen.
To understand what happens to CO2 and H2O during photosynthesis, let's break down the process:
1. CO2 enters the plant through tiny openings on the leaves called stomata. Stomata allow gases to diffuse in and out of the plant.
2. Simultaneously, water is drawn up from the roots through the xylem, a tissue responsible for transporting water and minerals.
3. Inside the plant's cells, chloroplasts (organelles responsible for photosynthesis) capture light energy from the sun through a pigment called chlorophyll.
4. The captured light energy, along with the CO2 from the atmosphere and the H2O from the roots, undergo a series of chemical reactions in the chloroplasts.
5. In these reactions, the carbon dioxide is broken down, and its carbon atoms are used to synthesize glucose, a simple sugar and energy-rich molecule. The oxygen atoms are released as a byproduct.
6. The glucose produced during photosynthesis becomes the primary energy source for the plant. It is used for growth, repair, and various metabolic processes within the plant cells.
The fate of water during photosynthesis is also interesting. While some of it is used in the chemical reactions that produce glucose, most of the water is recycled back into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration. Transpiration occurs when water evaporates from the leaves and stems of the plant, eventually escaping through the stomata as water vapor.
In summary, during photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) from the surroundings. The CO2 is used to produce glucose, while the oxygen is released back into the atmosphere. The water is used in chemical reactions and is also released back into the atmosphere through transpiration.