To make energy, a plant must get carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. What is the source of these atoms?
Plants get carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms from different sources:
- Carbon is obtained from atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) which is taken in through tiny pores called stomata on the leaves of the plant.
- Hydrogen is obtained from water (H2O) which is absorbed by the roots of the plant from the soil and transported to the leaves.
- Oxygen is obtained from carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, and also from the water molecule during respiration.
Through the process of photosynthesis, plants combine carbon dioxide and water to form glucose and release oxygen as a byproduct. This glucose then serves as the main source of energy for the plant, which it uses for growth and reproduction.