Which chemical equation correctly represents photosynthesis in plants?

Study for the TExES Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources 6-12 Test with multiple choice questions and explanations. Prepare for your teaching exam!

Multiple Choice

Which chemical equation correctly represents photosynthesis in plants?

Explanation:
Photosynthesis uses light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The equation should show carbon dioxide and water on the left as reactants and glucose and oxygen on the right as products. The balanced form is 6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2, reflecting that six molecules of CO2 and six of H2O combine to produce one molecule of glucose and six molecules of O2. Other representations either flip the direction (showing glucose and oxygen being consumed to make carbon dioxide and water, which describes respiration), or place the wrong substances on the reactant side, so they don’t depict the photosynthetic process.

Photosynthesis uses light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The equation should show carbon dioxide and water on the left as reactants and glucose and oxygen on the right as products. The balanced form is 6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2, reflecting that six molecules of CO2 and six of H2O combine to produce one molecule of glucose and six molecules of O2.

Other representations either flip the direction (showing glucose and oxygen being consumed to make carbon dioxide and water, which describes respiration), or place the wrong substances on the reactant side, so they don’t depict the photosynthetic process.

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