Which process in photosynthesis uses energy from the sun?
A. splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen
B. absorbing carbon dioxide
C. releasing oxygen
D. combining carbon dioxide and hydrogen
The correct answer is B. absorbing carbon dioxide. In photosynthesis, plants use energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. This process occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where pigments such as chlorophyll absorb light energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy. This chemical energy is then used to power the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
The process in photosynthesis that uses energy from the sun is option D, combining carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
The process in photosynthesis that uses energy from the sun is option D. combining carbon dioxide and hydrogen, also known as the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. This process occurs in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts, where pigments called chlorophyll capture the sunlight.
To understand this concept and know the answer, you need to have knowledge of the two main stages of photosynthesis: the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle). The light-dependent reactions transfer the energy from sunlight to convert ADP and NADP+ into the energy carriers ATP and NADPH. This energy is then used in the light-independent reactions to combine carbon dioxide and hydrogen, producing glucose.
Therefore, the correct answer is option D, combining carbon dioxide and hydrogen, which is a part of the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, fueled by the energy captured during the light-dependent reactions.