Question

The simplest model of photosynthesis must include which details?
• diagram of a plant
• diagram of a chloroplast
• products and reactants of the reaction
• products of the reaction

Answer 1

Pick the second (products and reactants of the reaction).

Minimal essentials for a simplest model of photosynthesis:
- The reactants: CO2 (from air), H2O (from soil) and light energy.
- The products: glucose (or a generic carbohydrate) and O2.
- The location (briefly): photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of leaf cells (you can show a leaf or label “chloroplast,” but a detailed chloroplast diagram is not required for the simplest model).

Include the balanced overall equation:
6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

If you want a minimal drawing: show a leaf (or plant) with arrows for sunlight, CO2 in, H2O up from roots, and O2 out — optionally label “chloroplast (site).”