What molecule is produced as a waste product of photosynthesis?

During photosynthesis, plants convert light energy into chemical energy by transforming carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The process involves two main stages: light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle (light-independent reactions).

In the light-dependent reactions, chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, which energizes electrons and leads to the splitting of water molecules. This reaction produces oxygen as a byproduct, which is then released into the atmosphere. Since oxygen is not utilized by the plant for energy storage or growth in this process, it is considered a waste product.

Understanding this process highlights the importance of oxygen not only for plants but also for aerobic organisms that rely on it for respiration. While glucose is the main product that serves as energy storage for the plant, oxygen is an excess that benefits the environment and other living organisms.