- Examine the chemical formula for glucose: \(C_6H_{12}O_6\).
- Review the photosynthesis equation: \(6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2\).
- Identify that the only reactant containing hydrogen atoms is water (\(H_2O\)).
- Conclude that water is the source of hydrogen in glucose synthesis. The correct answer is \(\boxed{\text{water}}\).
Explanation
- Analyzing the Chemical Source of Hydrogen in Glucose
The chemical formula for glucose is \(C_6H_{12}O_6\). To understand where the hydrogen atoms come from, we look at the balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis:
\[6CO_2 + 6H_2O + \text{light energy} \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2\]
In this reaction, plants consume carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)) and water (\(H_2O\)) in the presence of light energy (absorbed by chlorophyll) to produce glucose and oxygen. By examining the chemical makeup of the reactants:
- \(CO_2\) consists of carbon and oxygen atoms.
- \(H_2O\) consists of hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
- Light energy is energy, not a chemical substance containing atoms.
- Chlorophyll is a catalyst/pigment used to capture energy, not a reactant in the equation.
Since the only reactant that contains hydrogen is water, it must be the source of the hydrogen atoms required to form the glucose molecule.
- Conclusion and Final Answer
Based on the chemical equation, the hydrogen atoms in the glucose molecule are derived directly from the water molecules consumed during the process of photosynthesis. Therefore, the correct option is water.
Examples
Understanding photosynthesis is fundamental to biology, as it explains how plants generate the energy and matter that support almost all life on Earth. Just as identifying the source of hydrogen in glucose helps us trace the flow of atoms in a chemical reaction, learning these principles allows scientists to improve crop yields and develop sustainable energy technologies, such as bio-mimetic solar panels that mimic the efficiency of natural photosynthesis.