What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?

The chemical equation for photosynthesis is 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2.

Photosynthesis is a vital process that occurs in plants, algae, and some bacteria, enabling them to convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy that can be later released to fuel the organisms' activities. This process is crucial for life on Earth as it is the primary source of all the oxygen in the atmosphere.

The chemical equation for photosynthesis is 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2. This equation summarises how light energy (from the sun) is used to convert six molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2) and six molecules of water (H2O) into one molecule of glucose (C6H12O6) and six molecules of oxygen (O2).

The process of photosynthesis takes place in two stages: the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions (also known as the Calvin Cycle). In the light-dependent reactions, which take place in the thylakoid membrane, light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll and other pigments, and water is split into oxygen, which is released as a waste product, and hydrogen ions. The light energy is converted into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH.

In the light-independent reactions, which occur in the stroma of the chloroplasts, the ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions are used to convert carbon dioxide into glucose. This process is also known as carbon fixation.

The chemical equation for photosynthesis is a simplified representation of a very complex process. It does not show the many steps involved in the light-dependent and light-independent reactions, or the role of the various enzymes and other molecules that are necessary for the process to occur. However, it does provide a useful summary of the overall process and the key reactants and products.