Water Splitting Clock
how plants produce oxygen
Photosynthesis
photon
the source of sweetness on Earth–
process by which green plants create carbohydrates,
transforming sunshine into sugar,
storing energy in a chemical molecule
click
clicktotocontinue
begin
This process begins
with two water molecules …
A photon of sunlight is captured
releasing one hydrogen
as an electron
and a proton
proton
hydrogen ion
H+ electron
e-
water
H
H
S0
O
H
water
O
H
O
H
Water Splitting Clock
how plants produce oxygen
Photosynthesis
the source of sweetness on Earth–
process by which green plants create carbohydrates,
transforming sunshine into sugar,
storing energy in a chemical molecule
S1
e-
click to continue
electron
A second photon is captured
releasing an electron
proton
H+ electron
e-
S0
water
H
H
H
+H
water
O
O
photon
Water Splitting Clock
how plants produce oxygen
Photosynthesis
photon
S2
e-
H+
electron
hydrogen
proton
ion
S1
e-
click to continue
electron
A third photon is captured
releasing one hydrogen
as an electron
and a proton
proton
H+ electron
e-
water
H
S0
O
H
+H
water
O
Water Splitting Clock
how plants produce oxygen
Photosynthesis
photon
S2
e-
H+
electron
proton
S1
hydrogen
proton
ion H+
e-
click to continue
electron
electron e-
A fourth photon is captured
releasing one hydrogen
as an electron
and a proton
proton
H+ electron
e-
S0
O
H
+H
water
water
S3
O
Water Splitting Clock
how plants produce oxygen
Photosynthesis
S2
e-
H+
electron
proton
S1
proton H+
e-
click to continue
electron
electron e-
S3
Last, one hydrogen is released
as a proton
and one oxygen molecule
is released
proton
proton
H+
+
H electron
e-
S0
water O O
water
S4 oxygen
O
+H
O
Water Splitting Clock
how plants produce oxygen
Photosynthesis
S2
e-
H+
electron
proton
S1
proton H+
e-
click to continue
electron
electron e-
S3
4 electrons and 4 protons
used by the plant cell
to make carbohydrate
proton
H+ electron
proton
H+
e-
water
S0
water
S4 oxygen
Water Splitting Clock
how plants produce oxygen
photon
photon
photon
S2
photon
H+
S1
e-
eclick to continue
e-
H+
S3
H+
H+
e-
H
H
S4 oxygen
O
S0
water O O
O
H
H
+H
O
O
H
H
Water Splitting Clock
how plants produce oxygen
Heart
Small Intestine
S2
FIRE
Liver
Gall Bladder
Five
Element
Law
S1
TREE
S3
SOIL
of
Oriental Philosophy
& Medicine
water
WATER
S0
Kidneys
Bladder
oxygen
METAL
S
4Lungs
Colon
Spleen
Stomach