Question

What is the source of energy for photosynthesis?

Answer 1

Hint: Photosynthesis is a process by which photoautotrophic organisms synthesize carbohydrates from which energy in the form of ATP is derived for other metabolic processes. All photoautotrophic organisms contain the green photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll and act as producers in the ecosystem. Some important photoautotrophs include green plants, algae, photosynthetic bacteria etc.

Complete solution:
In order to solve this question if we look at the word photosynthesis we can get the hint for the source of energy for photosynthesis.
The word photosynthesis is made of two words – ‘photo’ meaning ‘light’ and ‘synthesis’ meaning ‘to produce/form’. Thus, the word photosynthesis means synthesis from light.
So, one can easily assert that light is the source of energy for photosynthesis.
Technically, photosynthesis is a process wherein the light energy is transformed into chemical energy which can be utilized for cellular functions.
To be more precise, light is made up of packets of energy called photons which are absorbed by the chlorophyll and other light harvesting pigments to drive light reactions which produce ATP and NADPH which are further used in dark reactions for the biosynthesis of sugars.

Hence the answer is- Light energy in the form of photons of light.

Note:
Plant photosynthesis is made up of two distinct processes carried out by different sections of the chloroplast. The light processes include the splitting of water into oxygen, protons, and electrons in the chloroplast thylakoid membrane. The protons and electrons are subsequently transported across the thylakoid membrane to form the energy storage molecules adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide phosphate, respectively (NADPH). The Calvin–Benson cycle enzymes (the dark processes) subsequently use ATP and NADPH to convert \[C{O_2}\] into glucose in the chloroplast stroma.