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Which products are made during plant photosynthesis?
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Photosynthesis
Diagram of photosynthesis showing how water, light, and carbon dioxide are absorbed by a plant to produce oxygen, sugars, and more carbon dioxide.
During plant photosynthesis, plants convert light energy into chemical energy to produce various organic compounds and oxygen.123
Primary Products
- Carbohydrates: The most significant direct organic products are carbohydrates, primarily glucose. While little free glucose remains in the plant, it is typically linked to form starch or combined with fructose to create sucrose.2
- Oxygen: Gaseous oxygen is produced as a by-product and released into the environment.12
Additional Synthesized Compounds
Beyond simple sugars, photosynthesis facilitates the synthesis of various other essential organic components within green tissues, including:
* Amino acids and proteins
* Lipids (fats)
* Pigments2
The process also generates intermediate chemical energy carriers, such as ATP and NADPH, which are utilized within the plant to drive the synthesis of these complex molecules.3