Photosynthesis is the process of which the plant produces its own food by absorbing light energy from sunlight and converts it into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH to form glucose which then stored in their bodies as carbohydrates. It is essential for it absorbs carbon dioxide which is harmful for humans and animals. Additionally, it releases oxygen as a byproduct by the process of splitting water which is called Photolysis. Moreover, it starts the ecological food web due to the fact that it produces glucose which serves as the energy for heterotrophs when they consume it.
2 Phases of Photosynthesis:
- Photosynthesis has two phases which are the light-dependent reaction and the light-independent reaction that takes place in the chloroplast.
Phase 1: Light-dependent reaction
This is the first step in photosynthesis and is also known as Light Reaction by which it requires light energy from sunlight. The light energy is being absorbed by chlorophyll and converts it into chemical energy as the byproduct of this reaction. Those chemical energies are ATP and NADPH. Also, oxygen is a byproduct of this reaction for it was released during the water splitting process of Light Reaction which is called the Photolysis.
Phase 2: Light-independent reaction
This is the second step of photosynthesis and is also known as Dark Reaction or Calvin Cycle by which it doesn't requires light energy due to the fact that it uses ATP and NADPH which came from the Light Reaction as a fuel for this process to work. Additionally, this reaction requires carbon dioxide and hydrogen in order to make glucose as a byproduct.
