Understanding Light Reactions

Photosynthesis is the biological process by which plants convert sunlight energy into chemical energy. The main product is the simple sugar glucose. The bonds in glucose can be broken and used for energy by the plants. The formula for photosynthesis is:

The reactants are carbon dioxide, water, and light energy. The products are glucose and oxygen.

Carbohydrates are formed from carbon chains with a single oxygen group (either an aldehyde or a ketone). Carbohydrates have the general empirical formula . This formula can be used to designate a nonspecific carbohydrate molecule.

The process described is the conversion of light energy to chemical energy through photosynthesis. Chlorophyll serves as a functional pigment in this process, but is not involved in the net reaction. Carbonated water is formed from dissolved carbon dioxide in water, and is actually a solution of the two compounds. Carbon hydroxide is a misnomer, and does not refer to a real compound.

Contrary to their assigned numbers, the electron in photosystem II is excited before the electron in photosystem I. Their numbers are a reflection of the order in which they were discovered.