Question

Which gas is released in plants during the process of photosynthesis?
A. Carbon dioxide
B. Oxygen
C. Nitrogen
D. Hydrogen

Answer 1

Hint: Green plants and different algae which contain chlorophyll produce their own food by using light energy of the sun and this process is known as photosynthesis. Food is formed in the form of carbohydrate and some energy rich compounds. Along with food some other things are also released as the end products of photosynthesis.

Complete answer:
Photosynthesis is the process of conversion of carbon dioxide, water and minerals into carbohydrates along with the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. Complex carbohydrates are produced which act as a source of food and oxygen is released as a waste product. Oxygen is released by the photolysis of water into oxygen and H+.
Carbon dioxide is converted to carbohydrates during photosynthesis after combining with water and sunlight. So after photosynthesis it no longer stays in its gaseous phase and thus can’t be released.
Nitrogen on the other hand is involved in the formation of amino acids which further converts into plant growth proteins that are vital for the growth of the plants. Plants get nitrogen from the soil and they integrate it into their amino acids and it has no interference in the process of photosynthesis except being a major structural component of chlorophyll.
Plants obtain hydrogen from water and the hydrogen from the water molecule combines with carbon dioxide forming carbohydrates and releasing oxygen gas into the atmosphere.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Additional information:
-Photosynthesis takes place inside chloroplasts which contains a pigment called chlorophyll which absorbs red and blue light. Chloroplasts radiate green light due to which plants are green. It has stacks of coin like thylakoids which actually consists of chlorophyll.
-Chlorophyll A pigment is mostly found in all plants. Several other pigments are found like xanthophyll (yellow pigment), chlorophyll b (yellow-green pigment), phaeophytin (grey brown pigment), carotene (orange pigment).
-Dinoflagellates are protists which give rise to red tides in the seas and cause harm to the aquatic life present beneath. These protists have light sensitive pigments like chlorophyll and phycoerythrin which is responsible for the red colour.

Note: The organisms that perform photosynthesis are known as Photoautotrophs (they make their own food by photosynthesis). Such organisms involve plants, algae and cyanobacteria. These organisms are also known as producers which make energy for themselves as well as the organisms that will consume those (Consumers).