Final answer:
In photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is sourced from the air through stomata and water is absorbed from the soil by roots, while energy is captured from sunlight. These reactants combine to produce glucose and oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reactants of photosynthesis are carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and energy from sunlight. These reactants are sourced from the environment by plants through different mechanisms:
- Carbon dioxide is obtained from the air via gas exchange through stomata, which are small openings on the undersides of leaves.
- Water is absorbed from the soil through the plant's roots and is transported up to the leaves where photosynthesis occurs.
- The energy required to drive the process of photosynthesis is captured from wavelengths of light, primarily by the chlorophyll in the chloroplasts of the leaf cells.
During the process of photosynthesis, these reactants interact within the chloroplasts of plant cells to produce glucose, a simple sugar that stores energy, and oxygen, which is released as a byproduct.