OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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During photosynthesis, what do plants utilize from sunlight?

Only heat energy
Visible light energy
Ultraviolet light
Infrared energy

The correct answer is: Visible light energy

During photosynthesis, plants primarily utilize visible light energy from sunlight. This energy is absorbed by chlorophyll, the green pigment in plant leaves, which is specifically adapted to capture certain wavelengths of light within the visible spectrum. The absorbed light energy is then converted into chemical energy through a series of reactions in the chloroplasts, ultimately leading to the production of glucose and oxygen. Other forms of light, such as ultraviolet and infrared, do not effectively contribute to the photosynthesis process. Ultraviolet light can be harmful to plant cells and is not used in the photosynthetic pathways, while infrared energy is mainly associated with heat rather than photosynthetic activity. Heat energy alone does not contribute to the synthesis of organic compounds in plants, as it does not drive the chemical reactions necessary for photosynthesis.