Question

During photosynthesis, light energy is converted into
a. Chemical energy
b. Wind energy
c. Instant energy
d. All of the above

Answer 1

The light energy that is absorbed during photosynthesis produces high energy electrons that further convert to NADP+ and ADP. Chlorophyll absorbed the light which drives the transfer of electrons and hydrogen from water to an acceptor known as NADP+. This will temporarily store energized electrons.

Complete answer:
- The light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis occurs in the Thylakoid membrane of the plant cell. The light energy is absorbed by the Chlorophyll.
- During the light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis,
- A photon of light energy is absorbed.
- The energy from the photon is absorbed and the photon disappears.
- This absorption helps an electron to jump from the ground state to a higher orbital, that produces an Excited pigment which has higher energy than the ground state pigment.
- An electron of P680 (photosystem II) or P700 (photosystem I) excites to a higher energy level.
- This high energy electron is used to convert NADP+ and ADP to compounds NADPH and ATP, thus trapping the energy in chemical form.
- Thereby converting the received light energy into chemical energy.

So, the correct option is, A. Chemical Energy

Additional Information:
ATP is the energy-storing molecule and NADPH is a reduced electron carrier. They are used to drive processes that lead to the synthesis of food in the form of sugars, called the Biosynthetic phase of photosynthesis. This process doesn't directly depend upon the light reaction but depends directly on the products of light reaction i.e., ATP and NADPH, besides CO2 and H2O. The water molecules in this process are the ones converted to Oxygen gas which provide the oxygen that we breathe.

Note: In plants, glucose is produced by using carbon dioxide, water, and light energy, and this process is known as photosynthesis. The chemical energy which is converted from light energy is stored in the form of glucose in plants. Also, respiration is the process in plants through which glucose can be converted into ATP whenever needed.