* Carbon dioxide (CO2): This is the source of carbon atoms that will be incorporated into glucose, the sugar produced by photosynthesis.
* Water (H2O): Water serves as a source of electrons and hydrogen ions (H+), which are needed for the reduction of carbon dioxide.
* Light energy: This energy is captured by chlorophyll and other pigments within the chloroplasts of plant cells. Light energy is used to drive the reactions of photosynthesis.
These inputs are converted into the outputs of photosynthesis, which are:
* Glucose (C6H12O6): A sugar molecule that serves as a source of energy for the plant.
* Oxygen (O2): A byproduct of photosynthesis that is released into the atmosphere.
The overall reaction of photosynthesis can be summarized as:
6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2