What role does carbon dioxide play in plant life processes? (AS7)

i. One of the processes in which carbon dioxide plays an important role in plants is known as photosynthesis.

ii. Photosynthesis is a process through which green plants make food using carbon dioxide and water in presence of sunlight.

iii. The process requires a pigment called chlorophyll, which gives plants their green colour and allows them to absorb light.

iv. This equation tells us that plants use carbon dioxide and water, plus energy from the sun, to produce sugar (glucose) and oxygen (which is released into the air).

v. The carbon dioxide and water are reactants, (what you start with) are on the left, and the glucose, oxygen are the products (what you end up with) are on the right.

vi. We know that animals and plants need energy to live.

vii. That energy is usually in the form of sugars like glucose.