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Topic last updated: 09 Nov 2023

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Cell biology, plants and photosynthesis

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Photosynthesis

All living things need energy, including plants.  

Animals are consumersconsumers
 Organisms that get their food by eating other organisms. , meaning that they get their energy from food (other animals and plants), but plants are producersproducers
 Organisms that make their own food by photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. , meaning that they generate their own energy via photosynthesis.  

They do this inside their chloroplasts, converting carbon dioxide and water into glucoseglucose
 A type of sugar: a mono saccharide with 6 carbon atoms (a hexose sugar). and oxygen with the addition of light. 

Specifically, chloroplasts contain chlorophyll which can trap the light. Chlorophyll is green in colour, and that is why plants appear green.  

 

Below is the word equation for photosynthesis.  

Photosynthesis equation
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Plant cell structure
Plant tissues and organs
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