Photosynthesis is a chemical process that occurs in plants, algae, and some bacteria, allowing them to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen in the presence of sunlight. The chemical equation for photosynthesis can be represented as follows:
[tex]\[ 6 CO_2 + 6 H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6 O_2 \][/tex]
Here's a breakdown of the components involved:
1. Reactants:
- Carbon dioxide ([tex]\( CO_2 \)[/tex])
- There are 6 molecules of [tex]\( CO_2 \)[/tex] involved.
- Water ([tex]\( H_2O \)[/tex])
- There are 6 molecules of [tex]\( H_2O \)[/tex] involved.
2. Products:
- Glucose ([tex]\( C_6H_{12}O_6 \)[/tex])
- One molecule of glucose is produced.
- Oxygen ([tex]\( O_2 \)[/tex])
- Six molecules of oxygen are produced.
Now, examining the given options:
1. [tex]\( 6 CO_2 + O_2 \)[/tex]
- This is incorrect because it lists only one of the reactants (six molecules of carbon dioxide) and one of the products (oxygen), rather than the proper reactants.
2. [tex]\( 6 CO_2 + 6 H_2O \)[/tex]
- This is correct. It correctly represents the reactants in photosynthesis: six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water.
3. [tex]\( C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6 O_2 \)[/tex]
- This represents the products of the photosynthesis reaction: one molecule of glucose and six molecules of oxygen. It is not the correct representation of the reactants.
4. [tex]\( C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6 H_2O \)[/tex]
- This is incorrect since it lists the products and incorrectly pairs glucose with water as reactants, which is not the case in this reaction.
Thus, the correct answer representing the reactants in the chemical equation for photosynthesis is:
[tex]\[ 6 CO_2 + 6 H_2O \][/tex]
