Question

"The oxygen produced during photosynthesis comes directly from the?

a. splitting of carbon dioxide molecules
b. splitting of water molecules
c. absorption of light
d. mitochondrial membrane"

Answer 1

The oxygen produced during photosynthesis comes from the splitting of water molecules, a process driven by the energy absorbed by chlorophyll from sunlight.

Step-by-step explanation:

The oxygen produced during photosynthesis comes directly from the splitting of water molecules. During the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, chlorophyll in the photosystems absorbs light, which excites electrons to a higher energy state. These high-energy electrons are then passed to a primary electron acceptor. To replace the missing electrons in the reaction center of photosystem II (P680), water molecules are split, producing oxygen, hydrogen ions, and electrons. This process requires the absorption of photons, but it is the water that is split, not the photons or carbon dioxide.