I am wondering if photosynthesis is an exothermic or endothermic process. What I knew that it is an endothermic process because photosynthesis needs energy in the form of radiation to prepare sugar but I have read a few papers where the authors mentioned that photosynthesis adds energy to the surrounding system means an exothermic process.
Please share your knowledge related to photosynthesis with evidence if possible. I am trying to account for the energy involved in the process of photosynthesis. Can anyone tell me the best method to calculate this energy for the agricultural system?
Your response will be highly appreciated.
Thanks
Taqi Raza
Photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction because sunlight energy is absorbed during the process. Here plants use the energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This reaction requires about 15 MJ of energy (sunlight) for every kilogram of glucose that is produced:
- 6 CO2 (g) + 6 H2O (l) + Photons of sunlight (energy absorbed) ⟶ C6H12O6 (aq.) + 6 O2 (g)
According to jacksofscience.com and chem.libretexts.org, photosynthesis is an endothermic process. This means it requires an input of energy to occur. In photosynthesis, plants use sunlight energy to synthesize glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water. Absorbing sunlight energy and converting it into chemical energy requires an input of energy. This makes photosynthesis an endothermic process. The specific light-dependent reactions where water is split to release oxygen require photon energy from sunlight to proceed. This absorbs energy. The Calvin cycle reactions where CO2 is converted to sugar also require energy in the form of ATP and NADPH, which are generated during the light reactions. The total of all the chemical reactions in photosynthesis stores more energy in molecules like glucose than what you start with in CO2 and H2O. This net storage requires energy input. So, in summary, photosynthesis requires sunlight energy absorption and transformation to occur, making it an endothermic, energy-consuming process.
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