Plant Leaves & Photosynthesis

The energy that is captured and stored in the leaves of plants allows for the synthesis (making of) sugars, starches, and oils that feed almost all animals including, humans

The process in which autotrophs are able to capture & convert the energy from the sun to synthesize carbohydrates such as sugars & starches, that can be used as food

Reactant = Carbon Dioxide, water, sunlight energy

Products = sugar, oxygen, heat*

Light energy converted to chemical energy

Only a small fraction of water that plants bring to the leaves is used for photosynthesis. The rest is lost through transpiration

Transpiration = loss of water through leaves into the atmosphere (water cycle); happens so that gas exchange can take place in mesophyll layer of leaves

Helps to cool leaves on hot days, BUT can threaten leaf's survival if H2O is scarce (a.ka. "wilting")