Question

Which of the following is the significance of photosynthesis?
A. Balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen
B. Balance of nitrogen in the environment
C. Provides food
D. Both A and C

Answer 1

Hint: The process of synthesizing nutrients in plants.

Complete answer:
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and certain other organisms transform light energy into chemical energy. During photosynthesis in green plants, light energy is captured and used to convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds.

Significance of photosynthesis
- Photosynthesis is a physiological process that is an ultimate source of oxygen and energy for all living organisms.
- It provides food for all living beings but the process occurs in the leaves of green plants.
- It fixes and balances the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere by plants exhaling oxygen and animals and humans exhaling carbon dioxide.
- It helps in the synthesis of organic compounds from inorganic compounds.
- It provides nutrition to the plants and thus helps in their growth and development.

Additional information
- Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast of the green plants which consists of a green color pigment called chlorophyll.
- Chloroplasts are present only in plant cells and are located within the mesophyll cells of the leaves.
- Glucose is formed as a source of food for plants that provide energy for growth and development.

Photosynthesis equation is:
${ 6CO }_{ 2 }+{ 6H }_{ 2 }{ O }\quad \rightarrow \quad { C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 12 }{ 0 }_{ 6 }+{ 6O }_{ 2 }$

So, the correct answer is ‘Both A and C’

Note: Photosynthesis occurs in two stages:
- Light-dependent reaction or light reaction – occurs in the presence of sunlight during the daytime.
- Light independent reaction or dark reaction – also called carbon-fixing reaction.