Earth and Life Science
Photosynthesis Green plants absorb light energy using chlorophyll in their leaves. They use it to react carbon dioxide with water to make a sugar called glucose. The glucose is used in respiration, or converted into starch and stored. Oxygen is produced as a by-product. This process is called photosynthesis. Temperature, carbon dioxide concentration and light intensity are factors that can limit the rate of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the chemical change which happens in the leaves of green plants. It is the first step towards making food - not just for plants but ultimately every animal on the planet. During photosynthesis: Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll , a green substance found in chloroplasts in some plant cells and algae Absorbed light energy is used to convert carbon dioxide (from the air) and water (from the soil) into a sugar called glucose Oxygen is released as a by-product This equation summarises what happens in photosyn