Photosynthesis Lab Report
Christina Grello
With the dramatically increasing population it is extremely important that we find a low-cost, carbon-neutral fuel. American chemist Dr. Daniel Nocera has devoted his career to finding this alternative energy source using photosynthesis as his inspiration. Photosynthesis, the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy stored in the bonds of glucose, is arguably one of the most important chemical reactions on earth. The maintenance of life on earth, our food, oxygen, and fossil fuels depend upon photosynthesis. In this process water and carbon dioxide are converted to oxygen and glucose using energy from the sun (Hoefnagels, 2012, p.90). The overall reaction can be written as: 6 CO2 (g)+ 6 H2O (l) →sunlight→ C6H12O6 …show more content…
The light reactions occur on the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast; here photons from the sun strike molecules of chlorophyll a, exciting the electrons into a higher energy state. In a series of reactions the energy is converted into ATP and NADPH. During this process water is split and oxygen is released as a byproduct. ATP and NADPH are then used in the dark reactions to produce glucose (Hoefnagels, 2012, p.96).
The dark reactions, also known as the Calvin Cycle, or light independent reaction, occur in the stroma of the chloroplast. During the Calvin Cycle a series of reactions reduce carbon dioxide by combining it with hydrogen to form carbohydrates, this process is referred to as carbon fixation (Hoefnagels, 2012, p.98).
In 2011, drawing inspiration from the light reactions of photosynthesis, Dr. Nocera developed the “artificial leaf”, a silicon coated sheet that is about the size of a playing card. When placed in water and exposed to sunlight the leaf splits water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, the gas can then be collected and used as fuel. Dr. Nocera’s process of “artificial photosynthesis” can more precisely be defined as solar-powered electrolysis of water (Owen, 2012). During the electrolysis of water energy from the sun electrochemically splits water into hydrogen gas and oxygen
With the dramatically increasing population it is extremely important that we find a low-cost, carbon-neutral fuel. American chemist Dr. Daniel Nocera has devoted his career to finding this alternative energy source using photosynthesis as his inspiration. Photosynthesis, the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy stored in the bonds of glucose, is arguably one of the most important chemical reactions on earth. The maintenance of life on earth, our food, oxygen, and fossil fuels depend upon photosynthesis. In this process water and carbon dioxide are converted to oxygen and glucose using energy from the sun (Hoefnagels, 2012, p.90). The overall reaction can be written as: 6 CO2 (g)+ 6 H2O (l) →sunlight→ C6H12O6 …show more content…
The light reactions occur on the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast; here photons from the sun strike molecules of chlorophyll a, exciting the electrons into a higher energy state. In a series of reactions the energy is converted into ATP and NADPH. During this process water is split and oxygen is released as a byproduct. ATP and NADPH are then used in the dark reactions to produce glucose (Hoefnagels, 2012, p.96).
The dark reactions, also known as the Calvin Cycle, or light independent reaction, occur in the stroma of the chloroplast. During the Calvin Cycle a series of reactions reduce carbon dioxide by combining it with hydrogen to form carbohydrates, this process is referred to as carbon fixation (Hoefnagels, 2012, p.98).
In 2011, drawing inspiration from the light reactions of photosynthesis, Dr. Nocera developed the “artificial leaf”, a silicon coated sheet that is about the size of a playing card. When placed in water and exposed to sunlight the leaf splits water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, the gas can then be collected and used as fuel. Dr. Nocera’s process of “artificial photosynthesis” can more precisely be defined as solar-powered electrolysis of water (Owen, 2012). During the electrolysis of water energy from the sun electrochemically splits water into hydrogen gas and oxygen