During photosynthesis, a glucose molecule is assembled. Glucose has the chemical formula C6H12O6. The carbon in glucose comes from carbon dioxide molecules (CO2).

Question

How many carbon dioxide molecules are needed to build one glucose molecule from scratch?

Responses

12
12

3
3

6
6

1
1

Answer 1

To determine how many carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules are needed to build one glucose molecule (C6H12O6), we need to look at the carbon content of both molecules.

A glucose molecule contains 6 carbon atoms. Each carbon dioxide molecule contributes 1 carbon atom to the process of photosynthesis. Therefore, to produce one glucose molecule, 6 carbon atoms are required.

Since each carbon dioxide molecule provides 1 carbon atom, you would need 6 CO2 molecules to provide the necessary 6 carbon atoms to build one glucose molecule.

The correct answer is:

6