During photosynthesis, plants recycle carbon in multiple ways:
1. The carbon in carbon dioxide (CO2) is recycled: Plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through tiny pores called stomata on their leaves. Inside the chloroplasts of plant cells, the enzyme ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) combines carbon dioxide with a 5-carbon molecule called ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) in a process called carbon fixation. This results in the formation of two 3-carbon molecules called phosphoglycerate (PGA).
2. The carbon in water is indirectly recycled: During photosynthesis, plants require water as a reactant. Although the carbon in water (H2O) is not directly recycled in the form of carbon atoms, it plays a crucial role in the photosynthetic process. Water is split by light energy in a process called photolysis, releasing oxygen and hydrogen ions. These hydrogen ions combine with carbon dioxide during the Calvin Cycle (a series of enzymatic reactions) to produce glucose.
3. The carbon in glucose is recycled: Glucose is a sugar molecule that contains carbon atoms. The carbon from glucose is recycled in various ways within the plant. Some glucose molecules are used for immediate energy production through cellular respiration, releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. Other glucose molecules are converted into starches or stored as complex carbohydrates for later use or growth. When plants are consumed by animals or decomposed, the carbon in glucose is further recycled through different food chains and ecosystems.
How do plants recycle carbon during photosynthesis?
The carbon in oxygen molecules
The carbon in carbon dioxide
The carbon in water is recycled
The carbon in glucose is recycled
3 answers
But which one is the answer
The specific answer to your question is: "The carbon in carbon dioxide is recycled." During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and convert it into glucose, a sugar molecule that contains carbon. This process allows plants to effectively recycle the carbon from carbon dioxide and incorporate it into organic compounds.
3 answers