Understanding Photosynthesis: A Simple Explanation for 11-Year-Old Students

What is Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is a process used by plants to make their own food. They do this by using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide (a gas in the air).

How Does Photosynthesis Work?

1. Sunlight: Plants have a green substance called chlorophyll, mostly in their leaves, which helps them capture sunlight.
2. Water: Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots.
3. Carbon Dioxide: Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air through tiny holes in their leaves called stomata.

The Process

Inside the leaves, plants use sunlight energy to change the water and carbon dioxide into glucose (a kind of sugar that plants use for food) and oxygen.

The chemical equation for photosynthesis is:

6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + sunlight energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6 O₂

This means six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water, using sunlight energy, produce one molecule of glucose and six molecules of oxygen.

Why is Photosynthesis Important?

• It provides food for plants, which are the base of many food chains.
• It produces oxygen that animals and people need to breathe.

So, photosynthesis helps plants grow and keeps the air clean and healthy for us!