Question

Chemical reaction equations, such as the one for photosynthesis, show the reactants and products of a reaction. How does this simplification misrepresent what takes place during the process of photosynthesis?

It does not show where in a cell photosynthesis occurs.
It does not show how long photosynthesis takes to happen.
It does not show that photosynthesis consists of many separate reactions.
It does not show the number of molecules required to produce glucose.

Answer 1

I would say the third option is the correct one. Although another simplification that the photosynthesis equation leaves out is the requirement of light energy needed to make glucose.

Answer 2

The right answer is It does not show that photosynthesis consists of many separate reactions.

It takes six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water to synthesize a molecule of glucose, releasing six molecules of oxygen, thanks to the light energy.

6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy ==> C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6 O2

But this balance is in fact broken down into two successive stages:

Light phase or photochemical phase:

12 H2O + light ==> 6 O2 + chemical energy (24 H).

The Calvin cycle (dark phase):

6 CO2 + chemical energy (24 H) ==> C6H12O6 + 6 H2O.