10.3.5

Photochemical Reactions

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Light in Photochemical Reactions

Light is a form of energy that can be used to activate many chemical reactions. Reactions caused by light are called photochemical reactions.

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Rate

  • Increasing the light intensity increases the rate of photochemical reactions.
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Photosynthesis

  • Photosynthesis is the chemical change that takes place in the leaves of green plants. Chlorophyll (green pigments) absorbs light, which allows carbon dioxide and water to react. This produces glucose and oxygen.
  • The greater the light intensity, the faster the rate of photosynthesis.
  • To calculate the rate of photosynthesis, we can observe the increase in the volume of oxygen gas with time.
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Equations for photosynthesis

  • Word equation: carbon dioxide + water + light energy → glucose + oxygen
  • Chemical equation: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C6H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3Stoichometry

4Electrochemistry

5Chemical Energetics

6Chemical Reactions

7Acids, Bases & Salts

8The Periodic Table

9Metals

10Chemistry of the Environment

11Organic Chemistry

11.1Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2Naming Organic Compounds

11.3Fuels

11.4Alkanes

11.5Alkenes

11.6Alcohols

11.7Carboxylic Acids

11.8Polymers

12Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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