During photosynthesis, the number of carbon atoms remains unchanged in terms of composition.
While the number of water molecules, glucose molecules, and carbon dioxide molecules change during the process, the total number of carbon atoms in the reactants and products remains consistent with the balanced equation of photosynthesis.
In the overall reaction:
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6 O₂
There are 6 carbon atoms in the reactants (from carbon dioxide) and 6 carbon atoms in the product glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆). Thus, the number of carbon atoms remains unchanged.