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Biology/reactants of photosynthesis

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Expert: - 11/14/2007


Question
For a section on photosythesis in our marine ecoloy section this semester we have to now about photosythesis, i already know what effects it, its products and the equations but i don't now if the reactants are the light and chlorophyll needed for the reaction to occur or if they are the starting materials of water and carbon dioxide. Could you please help me out?


Answer
Dear Lauren,

The reactants are the chemical compounds that change into something else over the course of the photosynthetic reactions.  Chlorophyll is the pigment that captures the light energy, but neither of those things is truly a reactant.  The water and carbon dioxide are the reactants that are converted into sugar and waste products.

Hope that helps.

Dana

Biology

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