A Kid's Guide to Photosynthesis
Living things are generally divided into two categories: plants and animals. For both plants and animals to survive, they need several things. Food is one of the common things that both plants and animals need in order to grow, be strong, and remain healthy. However, unlike animals and humans, plants cannot move around in search of food and do not have hands, mouths, or teeth for eating. So how do plants eat if they do not have all these? Plants, including trees, grass, and flowers, make their own food through a special process known as photosynthesis. In this way, they get the important nutrients that they require for healthy growth. It is important to learn what photosynthesis works so that you can understand what makes plants so unique.
What Is Photosynthesis?
Simply put, photosynthesis is the process by which green plants make their own food. This big word can be broken down into two words: "photo," which means light, and "synthesis," which means putting together. From the two smaller words, it's clear that the process involves plants using light to join things together. This process takes place in the leaves of green plants and trees. Using sunlight, plants synthesize nutrients from water and carbon dioxide and produce oxygen as a byproduct.
- What Is Photosynthesis? Find out more about the process and how it takes place here.
- How Plants Make Their Own Food: Through a simple chemical process, plants turn light, water, and carbon dioxide into sugar and oxygen.
- Introduction to the Process of Photosynthesis: Get an idea of what photosynthesis is and the conditions necessary for it to happen here.
- The Importance of Photosynthesis: Without photosynthesis, plants would not be able to make oxygen for us to breathe.
- All About Photosynthesis: The Royal Society of Chemistry provides a thorough explanation of how photosynthesis works here.
What Is Needed for Photosynthesis?
In order for photosynthesis to occur, plants need certain ingredients and conditions. The first one is chlorophyll, the pigment that makes plants green. The chemical that is essential for photosynthesis is produced naturally by all green plants. Plants also need carbon dioxide, a colorless gas that occurs naturally in the air around us. Water is also absorbed from the soil by the roots and transported to the leaves, where it is used as a raw material during the process. Both natural and artificial light are usable for this process, but natural light has UV properties that are helpful to plants. Lastly, plants need nutrients and minerals that they absorb from the soil and transport to their leaves. If one of these ingredients is not present, photosynthesis will not take place.
- Importance of Light in Photosynthesis: Without light, photosynthesis can't take place.
- How Does Photosynthesis Occur: Learn the basics about the ingredients plants use to make food here.
- What Does the Process of Photosynthesis Involve? Different plant structures are used to take in and move the ingredients for photosynthesis.
- The Process of Photosynthesis : A simple chemical formula describes what happens when plants make their own food.
- Photosynthesis Under Artificial Light: Photosynthesis can take place without natural sunlight.
- Photosynthesis as a Fundamental Process That Maintains Life on Earth: Photosynthesis provides food for organisms as well as oxygen to support animal life.
- The Chemical Equation of Photosynthesis: A simple and balanced chemical equation explains this process.
Steps of Photosynthesis
The first step involves carbon dioxide in the atmosphere entering the leaves of the plant through small pores known as stomata. Next, water is absorbed by the roots from the soil and transported to the leaves through a complex system in the stem. Third, chlorophyll, the green pigment found in the leaves, traps the energy in the sunlight that falls on the surface of the leaves. The energy obtained from light is used to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen obtained from this process is combined with carbon dioxide to make food for the plant. Excess oxygen is released through stomata into the atmosphere as waste.
- The Photosynthesis Process: The conversion of solar energy into chemical energy that plants can use relies on breaking down water molecules.
- Overview of Photosynthesis: Get an overview of this process by watching videos that break it down to show how it all works.
- How Photosynthesis Works: Plants use photosynthesis to make glucose, a type of sugar.
- How Plants Absorb Carbon Dioxide for Photosynthesis: Learn how carbon dioxide makes its way into leaves through stomata.
- Interesting Photosynthesis Facts: Did you know that energy sources like oil and gas come from plants, which used photosynthesis before they died?
- How Photosynthesis Takes Place in Oceans: Underwater plants contain special proteins that help them capture enough light to make food.
Photosynthesis Games and Activities
Photosynthesis is a complex process, making it quite challenging to learn. The good news is that there are numerous games and activities that can make the process easier and more fun. Some types of helpful games and activities include drawing exercises, quizzes, experiments, and practical activities like taking care of plants as they grow.
- What Exactly Is Photosynthesis? Read a glossary of important words and find a song and some games to help you remember facts about photosynthesis.
- Plant Leaf Experiment: Deprive a growing leaf of sunlight and you'll quickly see how important it is for plant growth.
- How Chlorophyll Absorbs Light Energy: Find out more about how leaves take in energy from the sun on this page.
- How Plants Split Oxygen From Water: A key part of photosynthesis is breaking water up into hydrogen and oxygen.
- Understanding Photosynthesis: Take an in-depth look at the science of photosynthesis here.
