Which of the following represents the balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis?

• A. 6\text{CO}_2 + 12\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} + 6\text{O}_2
• B. 6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2
• C. 6\text{O}_2 + \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 \rightarrow 6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O}
• D. \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + \text{O}_2

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O) into glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂) using sunlight energy. This process occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells and involves light-dependent and light-independent reactions.
2. Step 2: Recall the general balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis. The correct equation is: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂. This equation represents the stoichiometric balance of reactants and products in photosynthesis.
3. Step 3: Analyze the given options. Compare each option to the general balanced equation for photosynthesis. The correct equation should have 6 molecules of CO₂ and 6 molecules of H₂O as reactants, and 1 molecule of glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and 6 molecules of O₂ as products.
4. Step 4: Eliminate incorrect options. For example, the first option includes 12H₂O as a reactant, which is not consistent with the balanced equation. The third option reverses the process, representing cellular respiration instead of photosynthesis. The fourth option is unbalanced because it lacks the correct stoichiometric coefficients.
5. Step 5: Identify the correct answer. The correct balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂. This matches the second option provided in the problem.