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Definition: photosynthesis from Dictionary of Energy

Biological Energetics. the fundamental chemical process in which green plants (and certain other organisms) utilize the energy of sunlight or other light to convert carbon dioxide and water into organic chemical energy. Photosynthesis is often described as the most important chemical reaction on earth. See below.


Photosynthesis

From Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture
Photosynthesis is the process by which organisms convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates. The inputs of the chemical reaction are light energy, carbon dioxide, and water; the outputs are carbohydrates and oxygen. The overall reaction, which has many intermediate steps, is written as follows: Light energy + C0 2 + H 2 0 → (CH 2 0) + 0 2 The sun is the main source of light for the process. Photosynthetic organisms break down the bonds in the resulting carbohydrates to obtain the necessary energy for life-sustaining functions. Plants, algae, and some bacteria are the known organisms capable of photosynthetic activity. They all produce pigments, specialized proteins that capture energy when exposed to light. Numerous photosynthetic organisms have developed adaptations to regulate the timing of photosynthesis. By lengthening the time spent in photosynthesis per day or changing the time of day when photosynthesis occurs, organisms improve the efficiency of…
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Full text Article photosynthesis

From Dictionary of Microbiology & Molecular Biology
PHOTOSYNTHESIS. Simplified ‘Z scheme’ for...
In certain (photosynthetic) organisms: the process in which radiant energy is absorbed by specialized CHLOROPHYLL -containing pigment system(s) and is converted to forms of energy (including chemical energy) which can be used for metabolic and other purposes (cf. PURPLE MEMBRANE ); radiation of…
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Full text Article photosynthesis

From The American Heritage Student Science Dictionary
photosynthesis
The process by which green plants, algae, and certain forms of bacteria make carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water using energy from light, which is captured by chlorophyll or other pigments. Photosynthesis normally releases oxygen as a byproduct. See Note at transpiration . Photosynthesis A…
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Full text Article photosynthesis

From Penguin Dictionary of Biology
The light-dependent synthesis of organic carbon from inorganic molecules occurring in CHLOROPLASTS , cells of blue-green algae, prochlorophytes, green sulphur bacteria, purple sulphur bacteria, and purple non-sulphur bacteria, in the presence of one or more types of light-trapping pigments (notably…
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The basic reactions found in most...
1. Introduction 2. The Photosynthetic Process 3. Chemoautotrophy 4. Photorespiration 5. Photosynthetic Pathway Variation 6. Global Carbon Cycling: Photosynthetic Considerations 7. Global Climate Implications…
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Known methods for transforming solar...
1. Types of Artificial Photosynthetic Devices 2. Basic Processes of a Photoelectrochemical Energy Conversion Device 3. Photoelectrolysis Using Metal Oxides and Other Semiconductors 4. Approaches to Constructing Stable, Efficient Photoelectrochemical Cells Glossary anode The electrode in an…
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Full text Article photosynthesis

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(fō´´tōsĭn'thӘsĭs), process in which green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria utilize the energy of sunlight to manufacture carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll. Some of the plants that lack chlorophyll, e.g., the Indian pipe , secure their nutrients from organic…
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Full text Article PHOTOSYNTHESIS

From Gaither's Dictionary of Scientific Quotations
No biographical data available When sunlight bathes the chloroplast, and photons are absorbed The energy's transduced so fast that food is quickly stored Photosynthetic greenery traps light the spectrum through Then dark pathway machinery fixes the CO2. The Biochemists’ Handbook Photosynthesis…
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Full text Article photosynthesis

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Major endocrine gland of vertebrates, situated in the centre of the brain. It is attached to the hypothalamus by a stalk. The pituitary consists of two lobes. The posterior lobe is an extension of the hypothalamus, and is in effect nervous tissue. It stores two hormones synthesized in the…
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Full text Article photosynthesis

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
The light reaction of photosynthesis. The light...
Process by which green plants and certain other organisms transform light into chemical energy. In green plants, light energy is captured by chlorophyll in the chloroplasts of the leaves and used to convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds (simple and…
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Full text Article photosynthesis

From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary
The utilization of sunlight by plants and bacteria to convert two inorganic substances (carbon dioxide and water) into carbohydrates. Chlorophyll acts as the energy converter in this reaction, which is perhaps the most important on earth. The generalized reaction is 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O + 672 kcal → C 6 H…
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