IGCSEBiologyCambridge (CIE)Revision Notes6. Plant NutritionPhotosynthesis & Leaf StructurePhotosynthesis

Photosynthesis (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Biology): Revision Note

Exam code: 0610 & 0970

Lára Marie McIvor

Written by: Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn

Updated on

Cambridge (CIE) BiologyCambridge (CIE) Combined Science: Biology

Photosynthesis

  • Green plants make the carbohydrate glucose from the raw materials carbon dioxide and water

  • At the same time oxygen is made and released as a waste product

  • The reaction requires energy which is obtained by the pigment chlorophyll trapping light from the Sun

  • So photosynthesis can be defined as the process by which plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light

Examiner Tips and Tricks

If asked for the raw materials required for photosynthesis, the answer is carbon dioxide and water.

Although required for the reaction to take place, light energy is not a substance and therefore cannot be a raw material.

Photosynthesis word equation

  • The photosynthesis word equation can be summarised as:

c a r b o n space d i o x i d e space thin space plus thin space w a t e r space rightwards arrow g l u c o s e plus thin space o x y g e n subscript blank

  • The reaction between carbon dioxide and water to form glucose and oxygen occurs in the presence of light and chlorophyll

Diagram showing the word equation for photosynthesis, including how carbon dioxide and water are supplied to the leaf and how glucose and oxygen are used by the plant.
The inputs, outputs, and requirements of photosynthesis.

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Author
Reviewer
Lára Marie McIvor

Author: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Content Creator

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

Jenna Quinn

Reviewer: Jenna Quinn

Expertise: Content Creator

Jenna studied at Cardiff University before training to become a science teacher at the University of Bath specialising in Biology (although she loves teaching all three sciences at GCSE level!). Teaching is her passion, and with 10 years experience teaching across a wide range of specifications – from GCSE and A Level Biology in the UK to IGCSE and IB Biology internationally – she knows what is required to pass those Biology exams.