PHOTO = LIGHT, SYNTHESIS = MAKE.

Plants produce their own food by PHOTOSYNTHESIS.   The food they produce is GLUCOSE.  To make this, plants use LIGHT ENERGY from the Sun, WATER from roots and CARBON DIOXIDE from the air.  Photosynthesis take place in the LEAVES of all green plants.

Leaves provide a large surface area to trap lots of sunlight, as they are flat and thin.

The positioning of the PALISADE cells nearer to the top of leaf.

Many CHLOROPLASTS in the Palisade cell.

The location of GUARD cells on the surface of the leaf, which control the exchange of gases through the

    STOMATA

The process of Photosynthesis can be represented in the form of a chemical equation:

CARBON DIOXIDE

+

WATER

GLUCOSE

+

OXYGEN

Remember:

6CO₂

+

6H₂O

C₆H₁₂O₆

+

6O₂

Four conditions are necessary for photosynthesis to happen:

Light - provided by the Sun onto the leaves.

Water - comes from the soil, absorbed by root hairs, up the stem and into the leaves.

Chlorophyll - 'green stuff' found in the chloroplasts which makes the leaves look green and absorbs sunlight.

Carbon Dioxide - enter the leaves from the surrounding air.