Final answer:
The correct equation for photosynthesis is 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂, which simplifies the complex process into a single reaction showing the conversion of CO₂ and H₂O into glucose and oxygen using sunlight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct equation for photosynthesis is represented by option D: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂. During photosynthesis, six molecules of carbon dioxide (CO₂) combine with six molecules of water (H₂O) in the presence of sunlight to produce one molecule of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and six molecules of oxygen (O₂).
This process comprises two major stages: the light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle. In the light-dependent reactions, sunlight energy is captured and used to make ATP, which provides the energy needed for the second stage, the Calvin cycle, where glucose is synthesized.
The overall photosynthesis equation is a simplified representation of this complex network of reactions. Moreover, cellular respiration, which occurs in the mitochondria of cells, is the reverse of photosynthesis. It uses glucose and oxygen to produce energy, releasing water and carbon dioxide as byproducts.