The chemical equation for photosynthesis involves the reactants and products that participate in the process by which plants produce glucose and oxygen using carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
1. First, let's identify the reactants in the photosynthesis process. In general, photosynthesis can be summarized by the following chemical equation:
[tex]\[ 6 \text{CO}_2 + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{light energy} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 \text{O}_2 \][/tex]
2. From this general equation, we can see the reactants are:
- 6 molecules of carbon dioxide (CO₂)
- 6 molecules of water (H₂O)
3. Now let's match this with the given options:
- Option 1: [tex]\( 6 \text{CO}_2 + \text{O}_2 \)[/tex]
- This is incorrect because it does not include water, which is essential for the photosynthesis process.
- Option 2: [tex]\( 6 \text{CO}_2 + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O} \)[/tex]
- This is correct as it represents the reactants (carbon dioxide and water) correctly.
- Option 3: [tex]\( \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 \text{O}_2 \)[/tex]
- This represents the products of the photosynthesis equation, not the reactants.
- Option 4: [tex]\( \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O} \)[/tex]
- This also is incorrect because it lists glucose and water, which is not the correct representation of reactants for photosynthesis.
The correct representation of the reactants in the chemical equation for photosynthesis is:
[tex]\[ 6 \text{CO}_2 + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O} \][/tex]
Therefore, the correct answer is:
[tex]\[ 6 \text{CO}_2 + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O} \][/tex]
