Illuminating Photosynthesis PDF of lyrics with pictures of the process in action PBS Flash Interactive Presentation of the Poem Poem came from www.pbs.org 1) Photosynthesis, the trapper of sunlight; it's needed for life to subsist. All plants use the process to make food; without it most life would desist. (Chorus) Photosynthesis! Photosynthesis! Plants making food from the power of the sun Photosynthesis! Photosynthesis! Makes fresh oxygen for everyone 2) The process begins with plain water but not from the tap does it flow. Some water is made within leaf cells but most is sucked up from below. 3) With energy gained from sunlight, the "H"s are stripped from each "O". The oxygen atoms form twosomes, and out of the leaf they all go. (Chorus) Photosynthesis! Photosynthesis! Plants making food from the power of the sun Photosynthesis! Photosynthesis! Makes fresh oxygen for everyone 4) Meanwhile CO2 has just entered through holes in the leaf called stomata. The gas is exhaled by Earth's creatures, including all invertebrata. 5) CO2 taken in goes through changes; its atoms get pulled to and fro. It loses an O, which sticks to two Hs; together they form H2O. (Chorus) Photosynthesis! Photosynthesis! Plants making food from the power of the sun Photosynthesis! Photosynthesis! Makes fresh oxygen for everyone 6) But the plant has a goal that is bigger in scope; it's out to make food it can keep. It builds a big structure of "C"s, "H"s, and "O"s; it's glucose, and boy is it sweet. 7) Some folks get a kick from equations, which explain things by some kind of law. If by chance you are one of these people, then this explains what you just saw. 12H20 + 6CO2 --> C6H12O6 + 6H2O + 6O2 (Water + Carbon Dioxide --> Glucose + Water + Oxygen) (Chorus) Photosynthesis! Photosynthesis! Plants making food from the power of the sun Photosynthesis! Photosynthesis! Makes fresh oxygen for everyone Poem came from www.pbs.org Chorus lyrics and music added by Jim Matcuk Music and recording by Raimer Rojas |