Photosynthesis is a multipart, biochemical process that occurs in plants as well as in some bacteria. It captures carbon dioxide and solar energy to produce glucose. Glucose stores chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates. The overall biochemical formula of photosynthesis is 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2. Photosynthesis releases oxygen into the atmosphere and is largely responsible for maintaining the Earth’s atmospheric oxygen content.

All living organisms on Earth are directly or indirectly dependent on photosynthesis. It is the only biological process that can capture energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy that every organism can use to power its metabolism. Photosynthesis is also the source of oxygen required by many living organisms.
Types of Organisms Based on their Modes of Nutrition
Broadly, there are two main categories of organisms based on their modes of nutrition — autotrophs and...

Autotrophs

Plant Pigment Chromatography
ExpandNOTE: In this experiment you will separate pigments from spinach leaves using chromatography paper. Individual pigments travel along the paper at different rates and may have different colors. By calculating the relative distance the pigments travel, their resolution factor, and comparing them with literature values, you can identify different pigments. HYPOTHESES: In this exercise the experimental hypothesis is that there will be multiple pigments within the...

Plant Pigment Chromatography and Floating Leaf Discs in a Vacuum
ExpandOn the day before the experiment, fill a container with water.
Place the spinach leaves into the water and make sure they are submerged.
Leave the spinach leaves to soak overnight at room temperature.
Wearing gloves, prepare and measure out 18 cm x 304 cm sections of chromatography paper.
Prepare a bicarbonate solution for the second experiment by combining 0.25 g NaHCO3 with 300 mL water. Add one squirt of dish soap to the...

Oxygenic photosynthesis is a fundamental process in which light energy is harnessed to drive the oxidation of water, leading to the production of molecular oxygen (O₂), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). This process is essential for sustaining aerobic life on Earth and is primarily carried out by cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. The core of oxygenic photosynthesis lies in the thylakoid membranes, where chlorophyll pigments facilitate...