Intro to Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis

solar energy is converted into chemical potential energy, stored in glucose bonds through carbon fixation

• part of ecosystem productivity and carbon cycle

Autotrophs

organisms that capture free energy from physical sources in the environment

Photosynthetic autotrophs

organisms that capture free energy present in sunlight

Chemosynthetic Autotrophs

organisms that capture free energy from small inorganic molecules present in their environment

• can occur in the absence of oxygen

NOT

plants are ? the only producers

• cyanobacteria, algae

H₂O

Where does the O₂ we breathe come from?

Any macromolecule

What could a plant make when fixing carbon?

maximize photosynthesis

Plants are always trying to