Final answer:
During the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis, carbohydrate molecules are synthesized using the chemical energy from NADPH and ATP, which were produced in the light-dependent reactions. The energy facilitates the formation of G3P molecules, some of which become glucose and other carbohydrates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Calvin Cycle in Photosynthesis
The question relates to the Calvin cycle, which is a crucial phase of photosynthesis wherein carbohydrate molecules are synthesized. During this process, the cycle uses the chemical energy from NADPH and ATP that were produced in the earlier light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. An enzyme, RuBisCO, catalyzes the fixation of CO₂, combining it with RuBP to form a six-carbon compound that breaks down into two three-carbon compounds. Subsequently, the energy stored in ATP and NADPH converts these three-carbon molecules into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P), a three-carbon sugar. Some G3P molecules exit the cycle to be used in forming glucose and other carbohydrates, essential for plant energy storage and structure.
Of the multiple-choice options presented in the original question, D. Carbohydrate molecules are made is the correct answer regarding the events that occur during the Calvin cycle. ATP production in mitochondria, the release of chlorophyll energy, and the release of hydrogen atoms from water molecules are all processes related to the light-dependent reactions, not the Calvin cycle.