The Chemistry Behind Trees Chemistry plays a huge role in our environment. Although many individuals may be aware of the importance of chemistry, the truth is, chemistry revolves all around the world in its own way. The purpose of our existence is involved with chemistry. All living things require oxygen in order to survive; trees provide humans with that advantage. Trees are the air-purifiers of our planet. Trees also make the sugar that we consume. All this happens through the amazing process of photosynthesis. The main reason we are capable of breathing, is because of the process trees go through to release the oxygen we inhale. Photosynthesis must go through two cycles, the light reaction and the Calvin cycle before releasing oxygen and sugar. …show more content…
The Chloroplast contains green pigment called chlorophyll which absorbs light energy from the sun. That is where the first stage occurs, which is known as, the light-dependent reaction. This stage takes place in stacked thylakoids, known as the granum. The light-dependent reaction is highly dependent on light energy. The products of this stage are light, water, and carbon dioxide. The light energy splits water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen ions. Oxygen gas is released to the air as a by-product. Adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate NADPH is released and used in the next stage, the Calvin cycle. The Calvin cycle is the process, in which trees turn carbon dioxide from air to sugar. This stage takes place inside the chloroplast as well but not in the granum. The Calvin cycle takes place in stroma. The ATP and NADPH that was released in the light-dependent reaction are now used in this stage. The NADPH contains high energy electrons. These reactions use chemical energy from NADPH and ATP, which then creates the final product, glucose. This process is known as carbon