The sun is the ultimate source of energy. The FRAME Routine Key Topic Main idea is about… Essential details Leaf Processes Three basic processes that occur in leaves. They are photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration. Photosynthesis is a process in plants that allows them to capture energy from the sun to produce their own food and continually regenerate oxygen in the environment. The sun is the ultimate source of energy. It takes eight minutes for a photon of light to travel 93 million miles to Earth. A green plant needs only a few seconds to capture the energy from the sun, process it and store it. What makes this process possible are organelles inside the plant cells called chloroplasts Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a compound that captures radiant (light) energy from the sun and transforms it into chemical energy.

palisade cells, spongy cells, guard cells So What? (What’s important to understand about this?) Essential details (continued) Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts which takes place in 3 cells containing chloroplasts: palisade cells, spongy cells, guard cells 9 uses Photosynthesis results in 10 Reactants products include include carbon dioxide glucose water oxygen Plants convert sugar to starch for short-term and long-term storage. Starch molecules tend to cluster in certain plant cells like carrots, potatoes, grapes, bananas and corn. 21 The process of photosynthesis can be represented in a chemical equation. 22 Chemical Equation: chlorophyll 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 22 reactants products Photosynthesis is a process that enables plants to convert radiant energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of glucose used by plants and releases oxygen into the atmosphere.