Final answer:
Photosynthesis is a complex series of chemical reactions using sunlight to convert CO2 and H2O into glucose and oxygen; it involves two stages: light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions, or Calvin cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of photosynthesis is a complex sequence of chemical reactions that can be summarized by a simple chemical equation. In photosynthesis, plants and other photosynthetic organisms use energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2). The general chemical equation for photosynthesis is 6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2.
Though this equation appears straightforward, photosynthesis actually occurs in two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions or Calvin cycle. During the light-dependent reactions, chlorophyll absorbs sunlight and converts it into chemical energy, simultaneously splitting water molecules and releasing oxygen as a byproduct. In the light-independent reactions, this chemical energy is used to capture carbon from CO2 in the air and assemble sugar molecules.