Photosynthesis

Chapter 10 Photosynthesis Overview: The Process That Feeds the Biosphere Photosynthesis Is the process that converts solar energy into chemical energy Plants and other autotrophs Are the producers of the biosphere Plants are photoautotrophs They use the energy of sunlight to make organic molecules from water and carbon dioxide Figure 10.1 Photosynthesis Occurs in plants, algae, certain other protists, and some prokaryotes These organisms use light energy to drive the synthesis of organic molecules from carbon dioxide and (in most cases) water. They feed not only themselves, but the entire living world. (a) On land, plants are the predominant producers of food. In aquatic environments, photosynthetic organisms include (b) multicellular algae, such