THE PHOTOSYNTHESIS FORMULA EXPLAINED - BIOLOGY - 2025

The photosynthesis formula explains how plants take energy from the sun and use it to convert carbon dioxide and water into molecules necessary for their growth, that is, into food.

Here, the elements that initially intervene are carbon dioxide and water, which are later converted into glucose and oxygen.

This process requires multiple chemical reactions to take place, therefore it can be expressed in the following chemical formula:

6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

This transformation takes place thanks to the incidence of sunlight, which allows the plant to transform carbon dioxide and water into the nutrients it needs (glucose) and into oxygen that is released as waste.

In turn, the chemical elements that are shown in the photosynthesis formula enter and leave the plant cells through a diffusion process, known as osmosis, which allows the plant to take carbon dioxide from the air and release subsequently oxygen to it.

Just as air compounds are absorbed and released through the osmosis process, sunlight is captured thanks to the presence of a green pigment called chlorophyll.

Chemical equation of photosynthesis

The chemical equation for photosynthesis can be read as follows:

Carbon Dioxide + Water (+ Sunlight) → Glucose + Oxygen

It is important to note that this transition is only possible thanks to the incidence of sunlight, which is included in the formula in this way, since it does not constitute a substance in itself.

On the other hand, the way to formulate this equation chemically would be through the following balance:

6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

Where CO2 = Carbon Dioxide; H2O = Water; C6H12O6 = Glucose; O2 = Oxygen.

Glucose process

Glucose is formed from the mixture of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Once it is manufactured through the photosynthesis process, it can be used in three different ways:

1 - It can be converted into the chemicals required for the growth of plant cells, such as cellulose.

2 - It can be converted into starch, a storage molecule that has the ability to be converted back into glucose, in case the plant needs it.

3 - It can be decomposed during the respiration process, releasing the energy stored in its molecules.

Chemical compounds

Plants need to take in numerous chemical elements to stay alive and healthy. The most important are carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Hydrogen and oxygen are taken from water and soil, on the other hand, carbon and oxygen are taken from carbon dioxide and oxygen present in the atmosphere.

Water and carbon dioxide are used to synthesize food during photosynthesis. Oxygen is necessary to release energy from food during the plant's respiration process.

In addition to these three basic elements that are indicated in the photosynthesis formula, there are other mineral compounds that all plants require to grow healthily.

These are absorbed by the roots as ions dissolved in the soil water. Two of these mineral ions are nitrate and magnesium.

Nitrate is essential for the manufacture of amino acids during the photosynthesis process. Amino acids, in turn, are what allow proteins to be manufactured. For its part, magnesium is necessary for the production of chlorophyll.

Plants whose leaves turn colors other than green are probably going through a mineral deficiency stage and the photosynthesis process will not be carried out successfully.

Leaf cells

Plants, like all living things in the world, need to feed. For this reason, they use the process of photosynthesis to convert chemical compounds like carbon dioxide and water into the glucose they need for their cells to grow and develop.

In the same way, this photosynthesis process is only viable thanks to the action of the cells located in the leaves of plants, where a substance called chlorophyll allows the sun's energy to be stored and used to transform chemical compounds taken from the air.

Chlorophyll is rich in chloroplasts and enzymes that allow leaf cells to react during the photosynthesis process.

Parts of the plant cell

The cell is made up of multiple parts that play a fundamental role in the photosynthesis process. Some of these parts are as follows:

- Chloroplasts: contain the chlorophyll and enzymes necessary for the chemical reaction of photosynthesis to occur.

- Nucleus: in it is the DNA with the genetic information of the plant that is used by the enzymes during the photosynthesis process.

- Cell membrane: it is the permeable barrier that regulates the passage of gases and water both to enter and leave the cell.

- Vacuole: allows the cell to remain firm.

- Cytoplasm: it is the place where some of the enzymes and proteins used during the chemical process of photosynthesis are manufactured.

Factors that limit photosynthesis

There are three factors that can limit the chemical reaction of photosynthesis: the intensity of light, the concentration of carbon dioxide, and the temperature.

Light intensity

When there is not enough light, a plant cannot carry out the photosynthesis process efficiently, no matter that there is enough water and carbon dioxide in the environment.

Therefore, increasing the intensity of the light will immediately increase the speed of the photosynthesis process.

Photosynthesis relationship and light intensity

Carbon dioxide concentration

Sometimes the chemical process of photosynthesis is limited by the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air. Even with plenty of sunlight and water, a plant cannot photosynthesize without enough carbon dioxide in the air.

Photosynthesis relationship and carbon dioxide concentration

Temperature

When the temperature is very low, photosynthesis takes place more slowly. Similarly, plants cannot carry out photosynthesis when the temperature is very high.

Photosynthesis and temperature relationship

References

1. (2014). Science. Retrieved from How plants make food: bbc.co.uk.
2. Helmenstine, AM (Ferbuary 13, 2017). ThoughtCo. Retrieved from The Balanced Chemical Equation for Photosynthesis ?: thoughtco.com.
3. Matalone, S. (2017). com. Retrieved from Balanced Chemical Equation for Photosynthesis: study.com.
4. (2017). Photosynthesis Education. Retrieved from Photosynthesis for Kids: photosynthesiseducation.com.
5. Veloz, L. (April 24, 2017). Sciencing. Retrieved from What Are the Reactants of Photosynthesis ?: sciencing.com.