OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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What is the word equation for photosynthesis?

  1. Oxygen + Glucose --> Water + Carbon Dioxide

  2. Carbon Dioxide + Water --> Glucose + Oxygen

  3. Glucose + Water --> Carbon Dioxide + Oxygen

  4. Water + Light --> Carbon Dioxide + Glucose

The correct answer is: Carbon Dioxide + Water --> Glucose + Oxygen

The word equation for photosynthesis is correctly stated as carbon dioxide plus water producing glucose and oxygen. This process occurs in plants, algae, and some bacteria, where sunlight is harnessed to convert carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil into glucose, a form of sugar that serves as energy for the plant. Oxygen is released as a byproduct. In this context, carbon dioxide and water serve as the reactants, while glucose and oxygen are the products of the photosynthetic process, highlighting how plants utilize sunlight to create their own food. This fundamental equation illustrates the critical role of photosynthesis in the Earth's ecosystem, as it is essential not only for plant energy production but also for providing oxygen needed by most living organisms.