Question

As electrons travel from the primary electron acceptor in photosystem II, down the electron transport chain to photosystem I, they drive the movement of protons from the stroma into the thylakoid compartment. Why is the development of this chemical gradient useful to photosynthesis?

A. protons are directly used in the thylakoid to make glucose
B. protons provide the energy needed to drive the light-dependent reactions
C. the proton gradient can drive the production of ATP, which is needed for the light-independent reactions
D. this proton gradient is used to make NADPH, which is needed for the Calvin cycle

Answer 1

The development of a chemical gradient in photosynthesis is useful because it can drive the production of ATP, which is needed for the light-independent reactions. The proton gradient is used by ATP synthase to produce ATP.

Step-by-step explanation:

The development of a chemical gradient in photosynthesis is useful because it can drive the production of ATP, which is needed for the light-independent reactions known as the Calvin cycle. The proton gradient is created when electrons travel from the primary electron acceptor in photosystem II, down the electron transport chain to photosystem I. This gradient is used by ATP synthase to produce ATP, which provides the energy required for the Calvin cycle.