Photosynthesis
What is Photosynthesis? Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert the products of Cellular Respiration (Water and Glucose) into sugar and oxygen Step 1: Light Dependent Reactions --> Take place in Thylakoid Membranes First the chlorophyll in the plants absorb sunlight which excites electrons and moves them to a higher energy state. Once the electrons have been excited, they start the ETC (Electron Transport Chain) which generates energy Since the electrons are transferred in the ETC, chlorophyll must recoup the electrons that it has lost, so the water molecules are broken down into oxygen , H+ ions, and electrons (oxygen is a byproduct and it exits the cycle) The energy released from the ETC is used to pump the H+ ions across the membrane, creating a difference in the number of H+ ions on both sides of the membrane (proton gradient) Due to the creation of the proton gradient, protons try to get back to the other side of the membrane in an effort to (this is d...