Question

Navah writes out the chemical equation for photosynthesis. She includes two reacting molecules to the left of the arrow and two resulting molecules to the right. What must be added to the chemical equation to more accurately represent photosynthesis?

Answer 1

The light energy has to be added

Answer 2

light energy, above the arrow

Step-by-step explanation:

The photosynthesis process can be summarized in the following equation:

6 CO2 + 12 H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H2O.

As you can see, Navah's photosynthesis equation was missing the light energy above the arrow.

Although this equation is widely used to describe the process of photosynthesis, in reality, the first molecules to be formed are not glucose (C6H12O6), but simpler sugars with only three carbon atoms.

Photosynthesis is essential for life to exist on Earth the way we find it today, because it is through photosynthesis that oxygen on the planet is produced. In addition, photosynthesis is also responsible for producing energy for virtually all living things. Thus, photosynthesizing organisms underlie both terrestrial and aquatic food chains.