This Slide show highlights the basic important points of photosynthesis

1. Summary of Photosynthesis
• By Anando Neethling

2. WHAT IS PHOTOSYNTHESIS?
 The process that occurs in green plants, whereby
solar energy is converted into chemical energy
and stored as organic molecules by making use of
carbon dioxide, sunlight, and water. Water and
Oxygen are formed as byproducts.
 Photosynthesis can be summarized in the following
equation:
6 CO2 + 12 H2O + Light energy
C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O
(glucose)

3. WHO OR WHAT CAN
PHOTOSYNTHESIZE?
 Photoautotrophs can photosynthesize.
 Include: Green
plants, algae, cyanobacteria and green
protists.
Plants
Green protistsAlgae

4. WHY DO PLANTS
PHOTOSYNTHESIZE?
 To provide nutrients and oxygen for
heterotrophs.
 Heterotrophs are dependent on
autotrophs, because they cannot
produce there own food.

5. WHAT PART OF THE PLANT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR
PHOTOSYNTHESIS?
 Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts
of plant cells.
 The chloroplasts are mainly concentrated
in the mesophyll cells of leaves.
 Chloroplast contain chlorophyll – green
pigment that absorbs sunlight.
 Chlorophyll fill the space in the thylakoid
membrane.

6. CHLOROPLAST
MESOPHYLL CELL
(PALLISADE AND
SPONGY)

7. 1 µm
Thylakoid
space
Chloroplast
Granum
Intermembrane
space
Inner
membrane
Outer
membrane
Stroma
Thylakoid

8. The Importance of
Photosynthesis
 Energy entering chloroplasts as sunlight gets stored
as chemical energy in organic compounds
 Sugar made in the chloroplasts supplies chemical
energy and carbon skeletons to synthesize the
organic molecules of cells.
 Plants store excess sugar as starch in structures
such as roots, tubers, seeds, and fruits
 In addition to food production, photosynthesis
produces the O2 in our atmosphere