6CO2+6H20 ---------> C6H12O6 +6O2

The prevailing hypothesis was that the carbon dioxide was split to form O2.
In the 1930's C.B. Van Niel challenged this after investigating photosynthesis in bacteria that make their carbohydrate from CO2 but do not release O2.

CO2 + 2H2S--------> [CH2O] + H2O + 2S
In the sulphur releasing bacteria the CO2 is not split to form oxygen. The hydrogen sulphide is split to form sulphur and the hydrogen atoms used to make sugar.
Therefore for plants:-
CO2 + H2O ----------> [CH2O] + H2O + O2 (hydrolysis reaction taking place produces the O2)

	Created by charley_ann over 11 years ago

Note on Photosynthesis, created by charley_ann on 10/04/2013.

Photosynthesis