Sure, to understand how photosynthetic algae utilize CO[tex]\(_2\)[/tex] for photosynthesis, let's go through the photosynthesis equation.
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, including algae, use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide (CO[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]) and water (H[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]O) into glucose (C[tex]\(_6\)[/tex]H[tex]\(_{12}\)[/tex]O[tex]\(_6\)[/tex]) and oxygen (O[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]).
The balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis can be written as:
[tex]\[ \text{6CO\(_2\) + 6H\(_2\)O + sunlight -> C\(_6\)H\(_{12}\)O\(_6\) + 6O\(_2\)} \][/tex]
Now, let's break it down step-by-step:
1. Reactants:
- 6 molecules of carbon dioxide (CO[tex]\(_2\)[/tex])
- 6 molecules of water (H[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]O\))
- Sunlight (energy source)
2. Process:
- These reactants undergo photosynthesis within the chloroplasts of the algae.
3. Products:
- One molecule of glucose (C[tex]\(_6\)[/tex]H[tex]\(_{12}\)[/tex]O[tex]\(_6\)[/tex])
- Six molecules of oxygen (O[tex]\(_2\)[/tex]).
Thus, the complete, balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis is:
[tex]\[ \text{6CO\(_2\) + 6H\(_2\)O + sunlight -> C\(_6\)H\(_{12}\)O\(_6\) + 6O\(_2\)} \][/tex]
This equation indicates that algae take in carbon dioxide and water, use the energy from sunlight to convert these into glucose, which serves as food for themselves, and release oxygen as a byproduct.
