In oxygenic photosynthesis in plants, which overall balanced chemical equation best represents the process?

• A. $6C_{\mathrm{O}}+6O_2\to C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6$
• B. $6C_{\mathrm{O}}+6H_{2}O\to C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6+6O_2$
• C. $C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6+6O_2\to 6C_{\mathrm{O}}+6H_{2}O$
• D. $6C_{\mathrm{O}}+12H_{2}O\to C_6{H}_{12}{O}_6+12O_2$

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that oxygenic photosynthesis in plants converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen using light energy.
2. Write the general form of the photosynthesis equation: \$6 \text{CO}_2 + x \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + y \text{O}_2\( where \)x\( and \)y$ are coefficients to be determined.
3. Balance the carbon atoms first: 6 molecules of \(\text{CO}_2\) provide 6 carbon atoms, which matches the 6 carbons in glucose (\(\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6\)).
4. Balance the hydrogen atoms next: glucose has 12 hydrogens, so you need 6 water molecules (\$6 \text{H}_2\text{O}$) on the reactant side to provide 12 hydrogens.
5. Balance the oxygen atoms last: count oxygen atoms on both sides to find that 6 \(\text{CO}_2\) and 6 \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\) on the left produce 1 glucose and 6 \(\text{O}_2\) molecules on the right, completing the balanced equation.