Which molecule is needed for photosynthesis to occur?
Responses
water
water
nitrogen
nitrogen
oxygen
oxygen
glucose
The molecule needed for photosynthesis to occur is water.
None of the above options are correct. The correct molecule needed for photosynthesis to occur is carbon dioxide (CO2).
The correct answer is water (H2O). Photosynthesis is a process carried out by plants and some microorganisms that utilize sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO2), and water to produce oxygen (O2) and glucose (C6H12O6), a form of sugar. To determine the molecule needed for photosynthesis, we can first understand the process. Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, specifically in the chlorophyll molecules, which are responsible for capturing sunlight.
To confirm that water is needed for photosynthesis, we can recall the overall equation for photosynthesis:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2
In this equation, we see that water (H2O) is one of the reactants, which means it is required for the process to occur. By examining the equation, we can conclude that the molecule needed for photosynthesis to occur is water.