What is the source of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in plants?

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Components:**
- Plants require three essential elements: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).

2. **Source of Carbon:**
- The primary source of carbon for plants is carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. During the process of photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide through small openings in their leaves called stomata.

3. **Source of Hydrogen:**
- Hydrogen is obtained from water (H₂O), which is absorbed by the roots of the plants from the soil.

4. **Source of Oxygen:**
- Oxygen is also derived from water. During photosynthesis, water molecules are split in a process called photolysis, releasing oxygen as a byproduct into the atmosphere.

5. **Photosynthesis Process:**
- In the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll, plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a type of carbohydrate) and oxygen. This process occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells.

6. **Overall Equation of Photosynthesis:**
- The simplified equation for photosynthesis can be represented as:
\[ 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + \text{light energy} \rightarrow C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ \]
- This shows that six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water, using light energy, produce one molecule of glucose and six molecules of oxygen.

**Final Answer:**
The sources of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in plants are carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil.

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