The Site of Photosynthesis

• photosynthesis can be summarised by the equation:

  carbon dioxide + water —> oxygen + glucose

  (light energy)

  
  

  6CO2 + 6H20 —> 6O2 + C6H2O6
• the palisade layer is close to the leaf upper surface, where they get the most light
• they have large numbers of chloroplasts in their cytoplasm
• spongy mesophyll below the palisade layer has numerous air spaces forming a continuous pathway with the stomata, this facilitates gas exchange between the palisade cells and the external enviorment