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Plants & Photosynthesis
How do plants release oxygen during photosynthesis?
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Plants release oxygen during photosynthesis through the following process:
Light absorption: During photosynthesis, plants absorb sunlight, primarily the red and blue wavelengths of the visible light spectrum, using chlorophyll and other light-harvesting pigments in their leaves.
Light-dependent reactions: The absorbed light energy is used to split water (H2O) molecules in the chloroplasts of plant cells. This process, called the light-dependent reactions, releases electrons, which are then used to produce energy-carrying molecules, such as ATP and NADPH.
Carbon dioxide fixation: In the next stage, called the light-independent reactions or the Calvin cycle, the plant uses the energy and reducing power (NADPH) generated during the light-dependent reactions to fix carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. This process converts the carbon from CO2 into organic compounds, such as glucose.
Oxygen release: As a byproduct of the light-dependent reactions, where water is split, oxygen (O2) is released into the atmosphere. The oxygen is a waste product for the plant, but it is essential for the respiration of other organisms, including humans and animals.
The overall balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis, including the release of oxygen, is:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
This shows that for every six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water, the plant produces one molecule of glucose (C6H12O6) and six molecules of oxygen (6O2) as a byproduct.
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