Explain light and dark stage during photosynthesis

During photosynthesis, the light and dark stages are the two main stages of the process. In the light stage, light energy is absorbed by the chlorophyll in the leaf cells and converted into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH. During this stage, water molecules are also split into oxygen gas and protons (H+), which are used in the dark stage.

In the dark stage, also known as the Calvin cycle, the ATP and NADPH produced in the light stage are used to fix carbon dioxide (CO2) into the organic molecules of sugars. The dark stage does not require light, and can occur at any time as long as the necessary reactants are present, including CO2, ATP and NADPH, and the enzymes responsible for the reactions.

Overall, the light stage is responsible for producing ATP and NADPH, while the dark stage uses these energy molecules along with CO2 to create organic molecules. Together, these stages form the basis of photosynthesis, the process by which plants and other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy.