Which process uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen?

Which process uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen?

• A. Fermentation
• B. Respiration
• C. Combustion
• D. Photosynthesis

Answer: (D)

Sunlight provides the energy to build sugar from inorganic ingredients. In photosynthesis, plants use light absorbed by chlorophyll to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. The light energy drives the electron transport chain and the formation of ATP and NADPH, which power the Calvin cycle to fix CO2 into glucose. The overall equation can be written as six CO2 plus six H2O plus light yielding C6H12O6 plus six O2. This is different from fermentation, which does not use light; respiration, which consumes glucose and oxygen to release energy and waste CO2 and water; and combustion, which is rapid burning of a substance with oxygen. So the process described is photosynthesis.

Sunlight provides the energy to build sugar from inorganic ingredients. In photosynthesis, plants use light absorbed by chlorophyll to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. The light energy drives the electron transport chain and the formation of ATP and NADPH, which power the Calvin cycle to fix CO2 into glucose. The overall equation can be written as six CO2 plus six H2O plus light yielding C6H12O6 plus six O2. This is different from fermentation, which does not use light; respiration, which consumes glucose and oxygen to release energy and waste CO2 and water; and combustion, which is rapid burning of a substance with oxygen. So the process described is photosynthesis.