Which of the following are the main reactants required for photosynthesis in plants?

• A. Carbon dioxide and water
• B. Nitrogen and water
• C. Glucose and carbon dioxide
• D. Oxygen and glucose

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by recalling the overall chemical equation for photosynthesis, which is the process plants use to convert light energy into chemical energy. The equation is: ${6 \mathrm{CO}\_2}_{}+{6 H\_2O}_{} \to {C 6 H\_12O\_6}_{}+{6 O\_2}_{}$. This equation shows the reactants and products involved in photosynthesis.
2. Step 2: Identify the reactants in the photosynthesis equation. Reactants are the substances that are consumed during the reaction. In this case, carbon dioxide (${\mathrm{CO}\_2}_{}$) and water (${H\_2O}_{}$) are the main reactants.
3. Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options by comparing them to the reactants in the photosynthesis equation. Nitrogen and water are not involved in photosynthesis, so this option is incorrect. Glucose and carbon dioxide are products and reactants, respectively, but glucose is not a reactant, so this option is also incorrect. Oxygen and glucose are products of photosynthesis, not reactants, so this option is incorrect as well.
4. Step 4: Confirm that carbon dioxide and water are the correct answer. These are the substances plants take in to perform photosynthesis, using light energy to convert them into glucose and oxygen.
5. Step 5: Understand the importance of these reactants. Carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere through the stomata in leaves, and water is absorbed from the soil through the roots. Both are essential for the light-dependent and light-independent reactions of photosynthesis.