Final answer:
Photosystem II (PSII) splits water into 1/2 O2, H+, and e- in the thylakoid compartment of the chloroplast. This process releases oxygen as a waste product.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the thylakoid compartment, Photosystem II (PSII) splits water into 1/2 O2, H+, and e-. The high-energy electrons produced by the splitting of water are then delivered through the chloroplast electron transport chain to Photosystem I (PSI), which reduces NADP+ to NADPH. This process releases oxygen as a waste product. This process, known as photolysis or the water-splitting reaction, results in the release of oxygen (1/2 O2), protons (H+), and electrons (e-). The oxygen released is a byproduct of photosynthesis, and the electrons are used in the electron transport chain to generate ATP and reduce NADP+ to NADPH.