What is the simplified word equation for photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen

Why do leaves change color in autumn?

Chlorophyll breaks down, revealing other pigments

The Photosynthesis Quiz – Facts Worth Knowing

Take the photosynthesis quiz to learn how plants use chlorophyll, sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make glucose and oxygen, how stomata work and what happens in the light reactions and Calvin cycle. Ten questions with facts worth knowing.

Start the Photosynthesis Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Inputs
Which two ingredients do plants use in photosynthesis besides light?
Outputs
What do plants make in photosynthesis?
Pigment
Which pigment captures light energy?
Pores
Through which tiny pores does CO2 enter leaves?
Equation
What is the simplified word equation for photosynthesis?
Cycle
What is the light-independent stage called?
Oxygen
Where does the oxygen released in photosynthesis come from?
Discovery
Who showed in 1779 that plants make air good in sunlight?
Oceans
Which organisms produce much of Earth's oxygen?
Color
Why do leaves change color in autumn?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which two ingredients do plants use in photosynthesis besides light?
Answer: Carbon dioxide and water
Roots take in water and leaves take in CO2.
Q2: What do plants make in photosynthesis?
Answer: Glucose and oxygen
Oxygen is released into the air.
Q3: Which pigment captures light energy?
Answer: Chlorophyll
It is found in chloroplasts.
Q4: Through which tiny pores does CO2 enter leaves?
Answer: Stomata
Guard cells open and close them.
Q5: What is the simplified word equation for photosynthesis?
Answer: Carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen
Light provides the energy.
Q6: What is the light-independent stage called?
Answer: Calvin cycle
It builds sugar from CO2.
Q7: Where does the oxygen released in photosynthesis come from?
Answer: Water molecules
Water is split in the light reactions.
Q8: Who showed in 1779 that plants make air good in sunlight?
Answer: Jan Ingenhousz
Priestley had shown plants restore air earlier.
Q9: Which organisms produce much of Earth's oxygen?
Answer: Ocean phytoplankton
They make about half of it.
Q10: Why do leaves change color in autumn?
Answer: Chlorophyll breaks down, revealing other pigments
Yellows and oranges were there all along.

The Photosynthesis Quiz – Turning Light Into Food

Photosynthesis is how plants, algae and some bacteria make food using sunlight. Inside chloroplasts, the green pigment chlorophyll captures light energy and uses it to turn carbon dioxide and water into glucose, releasing oxygen as a by-product.

The process has two main stages. The light reactions split water and capture energy, and the Calvin cycle uses that energy to build sugars from carbon dioxide. Plants use the sugar for energy and to build cellulose, starch and other materials.

Photosynthesis supports almost all life on Earth. It produces the oxygen we breathe, forms the base of food chains and removes carbon dioxide from the air. Without it, there would be no forests, crops or animals.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is for students learning about photosynthesis.

What plants need
What they make
What chlorophyll does
What stomata are
Why leaves change color

Did You Know?

Cacti open stomata at night to save water.
Some plants are parasites and do not photosynthesize.
Greenhouses add CO2 to boost growth.
Photosynthesis began over 3 billion years ago.
Artificial photosynthesis is being researched.