What are the reactants and products of photosynthesis?

What are the reactants and products of photosynthesis?

• A. Reactants: glucose and oxygen; Products: carbon dioxide and water.
• B. Reactants: carbon dioxide and water; Products: glucose and oxygen.
• C. Reactants: carbon dioxide and water; Products: carbon dioxide and water.
• D. Reactants: carbon dioxide and water plus light energy; Products: glucose and oxygen.

Answer: (D)

Photosynthesis uses light energy to drive the formation of glucose from carbon dioxide and water, with oxygen being released as a byproduct. The overall inputs are carbon dioxide, water, and light energy; the outputs are glucose and oxygen. This reflects how chloroplasts capture light to power the chemical synthesis of sugar, while water is split to provide electrons and release oxygen. One common pitfall is listing glucose and oxygen as reactants; they are the products. Another pitfall is omitting light energy as an input, since light energy is needed to drive the reaction.

Photosynthesis uses light energy to drive the formation of glucose from carbon dioxide and water, with oxygen being released as a byproduct. The overall inputs are carbon dioxide, water, and light energy; the outputs are glucose and oxygen. This reflects how chloroplasts capture light to power the chemical synthesis of sugar, while water is split to provide electrons and release oxygen. One common pitfall is listing glucose and oxygen as reactants; they are the products. Another pitfall is omitting light energy as an input, since light energy is needed to drive the reaction.