Chemistry and Photosynthesis

Paper Summary:

This paper provides a chemical perspective on the utilization of sunlight by plants for the conversion of carbon dioxide into organic matter, or photosynthesis. The author provides and explains the chemical equation of this process and explains how energy is converted from sunlight into a chemical form for plants to use as food. The paper also discusses briefly the greenhouse effect and suggests that it is possible that the science of chemistry may eventually provide an answer by arriving at some type of system or process which could effectively eliminate a good amount of the built-up carbon dioxide.

From the Paper:

"Generally speaking, the photosynthetic carbon cycle is made up of reactions concerned with the function and re-creation of the actual acceptor molecule reacting with carbon dioxide, assimilation and the photochemical reduction. These CO2 acceptors (5-carbon ribulose diphosphate) is created by condensation and hydrolises, while part of the primary carbohydrates go directly to stored sugars or starch. Through several other complicated chemical processes, the end-product is oxygen which is then released into the atmosphere for use by air-breathing animals."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bacon, K.E. Photosynthesis: Photobiochemistry and Photobiophysics. New York: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003.
• Blankenship, Robert E. Molecular Mechanisms of Photosynthesis. New York: Wiley-Blackwell, 2002.
• Farabee, M.J. "Photosynthesis." 2007. Internet. Retrieved April 9, 2008 from http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookPS.html.
• Gregory, R.P.F. The Biochemistry of Photosynthesis. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2002.
• Silverstein, Alvin. Photosynthesis. New York: Lerner Publishing Group, 2003.

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