Final answer:
The production of one molecule of oxygen from a water molecule during photosynthesis requires several thousand chlorophyll molecules to capture and transfer light energy, which enables the process of photolysis where water is split releasing electrons that replace those lost from chlorophyll.
Step-by-step explanation:
The production of one molecule of oxygen (O₂) from a water molecule requires several thousand chlorophyll molecules during the process of photosynthesis. In the reaction center of photosystem II (PSII), when a chlorophyll molecule absorbs a photon of light, it becomes energized and an electron is excited to a higher energy state. This energized electron is transferred to a primary electron acceptor, thus leaving the chlorophyll molecule with an electron deficit.
To replace this missing electron, a water molecule (H₂O) is split in a process known as photolysis, where the water molecule is broken down into two electrons, two hydrogen ions (H+), and one oxygen atom. As one molecule of water is split, it releases two electrons. However, to produce one molecule of diatomic oxygen gas, O₂, two water molecules need to be split, releasing four electrons in total. These electrons are then used to recover the four electron deficits created by the reaction center chlorophyll molecules undergoing excitation due to light absorption.