Question

Photolysis of water requires
A. Light
B. Chlorophyll
C. Both A and B
D. Electron transport

Answer 1

Hint: In general, the term photolysis refers to the splitting or decomposition of molecules or chemical compounds by the means of light energy or photons.

Complete Answer:
Photolysis of water: Photolysis of water means the splitting of water molecules in the presence of light or photons into hydrogen ions, oxygen and electrons.
Any photon with sufficient energy can split the chemical bond of any compound.

Photolysis of water in plants: Photolysis is a part of Hill reaction or photochemical phase or light phase or light dependent reaction in photosynthesis.
- Photosynthesis is a process by which plants make their own food with the help of Sunlight, Water, Carbon Dioxide and Chlorophyll.
- Photolysis of water occurs in the chloroplasts of plants. It also occurs in the thylakoids of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
- In the photolysis from the splitting up of water molecules, the oxygen is released as a by-product in the atmosphere and the reduced hydrogen acceptor makes its way to the Calvin cycle which is the second stage of photosynthesis.
Therefore, from the above discussion it is clear that Photolysis of water requires both light and chlorophyll.

So, the correct option is option C for this question.

Note: All the animals are dependent on plants for Oxygen. This oxygen that we inhale comes from the process of photolysis of water in photosynthesis. This oxygen is released as a by-product in this reaction.