Rate of Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis uses energy to change CO2 and water into glucose and oxygen
• Takes place in chloroplasts, which trap and absorb light energy
• Photosynthesis is endothermic, this means energy is transferred from the environment
• Word equation - Carbon Dioxide + Water -> Glucose + Oxygen
• Symbol Equation - 6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
• Light provides energy for photosynthesis, as the light level increases the rate of photosynthesis steadily increases, but only upto a certain point. This is because one of the other factors has become the limiting factor
• Carbon dioxide concentration affects the rate of photosynthesis, if it's too low then the reaction will be limited by the availability of carbon dioxide
• If the temperature is too high, enzymes denature and the rate of photosynthesis drops off sharply
• Water concentration affects the rate of photosynthesis, if there isn't enough water available to make glucose then the reaction will be limited by the availability of water