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Photosynthesis and Plant Needs

Distinguish making sugars from taking up water and minerals.

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Photosynthesis uses light energy to build sugars from carbon dioxide and water, releasing oxygen. Soil supplies minerals and often water, but it is not where plants obtain all the material for their sugars.

Worked example

A leaf takes in carbon dioxide from air. The carbon can become part of sugar; the plant is not simply eating soil to make that sugar.

1. Which energy source powers photosynthesis?
2. Which gas supplies carbon for the sugars formed?
3. Which gas is released in the usual school model of photosynthesis?
4. Why is 'plants get all their food by eating soil' misleading?
5. Do plants also use cellular respiration?