Photosynthesis has two main stages: the light-dependent reaction and the light-independent reaction. In the light-dependent reaction, which takes place in the thylakoids of the chloroplast, light energy from the sun is absorbed by chlorophyll and used to split water molecules into hydrogen ions, electrons, and oxygen gas. The hydrogen ions and electrons are used to produce ATP and NADPH. In the light-independent reaction, also known as the Calvin cycle, which takes place in the stroma of the chloroplast, carbon dioxide is fixed into organic compounds using the ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reaction. The Calvin cycle produces glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GALP) which can be used