Question

As discussed in lecture, green plants use photosynthetic reaction centers to convert solar photons into stored forms of energy. The overall reaction used by green plants converts carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates (empirical formula CH2O) and dioxygen: CO2 + H2O → (CH2O) + O2 The chemical energy change for this reaction is +477 kJ/mol, and it requires absorption of eight photons of light in the visible range. If the average wavelength absorbed from the visible spectrum is 575 nm, determine the theoretical maximum efficiency of photosynthesis, the fraction of the total solar energy absorbed that is converted into chemical energy. Compare this efficiency to that for silicon solar cells, which can convert about 10% of the incident solar energy into electrical energy.

          As discussed in lecture, green plants use photosynthetic reaction centers to convert solar photons into stored forms of energy. The overall reaction used by green plants converts carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates (empirical formula CH2O) and dioxygen:
CO2 + H2O → (CH2O) + O2
The chemical energy change for this reaction is +477 kJ/mol, and it requires absorption of eight photons of light in the visible range. If the average wavelength absorbed from the visible spectrum is 575 nm, determine the theoretical maximum efficiency of photosynthesis, the fraction of the total solar energy absorbed that is converted into chemical energy. Compare this efficiency to that for silicon solar cells, which can convert about 10% of the incident solar energy into electrical energy.

Added by Rafael K.

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