* They are intermediates: ATP and NADPH are not the final products of photosynthesis. They are energy carriers produced during the light-dependent reactions and are then used immediately in the light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle).
* They are consumed: The ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions are consumed in the Calvin cycle to power the conversion of carbon dioxide into glucose.
* Overall equation focuses on net change: The overall equation for photosynthesis only shows the net change in reactants and products. It focuses on the raw materials used (carbon dioxide and water) and the final product (glucose and oxygen). The intermediate steps and energy carriers are not included.
Here's a simplified analogy:
Imagine you have a recipe for cake that requires flour, sugar, and eggs. You mix them together to make batter, but the batter isn't the final product. The batter is an intermediate step. You then bake the batter to create the cake, which is the final product.
The overall recipe would simply state: Flour + Sugar + Eggs → Cake
You wouldn't include the intermediate step of batter in the recipe, even though it is essential for making the cake.
Similarly, ATP and NADPH are essential intermediates in photosynthesis, but they are not included in the overall equation because they are consumed in subsequent steps and don't appear as final products.
