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What are the products of Photosynthesis? — Reading Comprehension

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"This NGSS-aligned reading passage for middle school students (grades 6-8) explores the vital process of photosynthesis and its products. The text explains how plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to create two essential products: glucose and oxygen. It details the role of chlorophyll and chloroplasts in this process and connects photosynthesis to the broader ecosystem, highlighting its significance for both plants and other living organisms. The passage is designed to be a direct, informative resource for self-study, reinforcing key scientific concepts related to matter and energy flow in ecosystems. It uses clear, concise language to make complex ideas accessible to a middle school audience."

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An illustration showing the process of photosynthesis within a plant leaf, highlighting sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water as reactants, and glucose and oxygen as products. — Process of photosynthesis, where a plant uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen.

Photosynthesis is the fundamental process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy. This process is crucial for life on Earth, as it is the primary way that energy from the sun is captured and stored in organic molecules. The key players in this chemical reaction are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), which act as the reactants. These ingredients are used to create the essential products that sustain the plant and, directly or indirectly, most other living organisms.

Inside a plant's cells, organelles called chloroplasts contain a green pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is responsible for absorbing light energy, which then powers the conversion of the reactants. The overall chemical reaction can be summarized as:

6CO2+6H2O+Light Energy→C6H12O6+6O2

This formula shows that in the presence of light, six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water are transformed into one molecule of glucose and six molecules of oxygen. These resulting substances—glucose and oxygen—are the two main products of photosynthesis.

Glucose (C6H12O6) is a simple sugar that serves as the plant’s food source. It is a form of chemical energy that the plant uses for growth, reproduction, and other metabolic activities. Excess glucose can be stored as starch, which can be broken down later for energy. The second product is oxygen (O2), which is released into the atmosphere as a byproduct. This oxygen is vital for the survival of most organisms on Earth, including humans, which depend on it for cellular respiration. Therefore, photosynthesis not only feeds plants but also replenishes the air we breathe.

Fun Fact: The oxygen that we breathe comes from the water molecules that plants take in, not from the carbon dioxide.

What is the main purpose of photosynthesis for plants?

To release carbon dioxideTo absorb sunlightTo create their own foodTo produce water

Which two substances are the main products of photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide and waterWater and glucoseGlucose and oxygenOxygen and carbon dioxide

What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?

To release oxygenTo absorb light energyTo store glucoseTo produce water

The chemical formula C6H12O6 represents which product of photosynthesis?

WaterCarbon dioxideOxygenGlucose

Based on the passage, where does the oxygen released during photosynthesis originate from?

The carbon dioxide moleculesThe soilThe water moleculesThe chlorophyll

Which of the following best describes the overall process of photosynthesis?

Converting chemical energy to light energyBreaking down glucose for energyCapturing light to create foodReleasing water and carbon dioxide

If a plant is grown in a sealed container with a limited amount of carbon dioxide, what would be the likely effect on its ability to perform photosynthesis?

The plant would produce more oxygen.Photosynthesis would slow down.The plant would produce more glucose.The process would be unaffected.

Which organelle in a plant cell is the site of photosynthesis?

NucleusMitochondriaChloroplastVacuole