6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
This equation represents the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O) into glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂) in the presence of light energy.
However, photosynthesis is a complex process that occurs in two main stages:
1. Light-dependent reactions:
* Water is split: 2H₂O → 4H⁺ + 4e⁻ + O₂
* Light energy is captured by chlorophyll and used to produce ATP and NADPH:
* Light + 2ADP + 2Pi → 2ATP
* Light + 2NADP⁺ + 2H⁺ + 4e⁻ → 2NADPH + 2H⁺
2. Light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle):
* Carbon dioxide is fixed: 6CO₂ + 6RuBP → 12PGA
* PGA is reduced to G3P using ATP and NADPH: 12PGA + 12ATP + 12NADPH → 12G3P + 12ADP + 12Pi + 12NADP⁺
* G3P is used to regenerate RuBP and produce glucose: 10G3P → 6RuBP + 2G3P
These equations represent the major chemical changes that occur during photosynthesis. However, it's important to note that the process is far more complex and involves numerous intermediate steps and enzymes.