Nucleic acids are polymers of individual nucleotide monomers. Each nucleotide is composed of three parts: a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. Only two 5-carbon sugars are found in nature: ribose and deoxyribose. 5-carbon sugar (ribose or deoxyribose) forms the central molecule in a nucleotide. By convention, the carbon atoms in the sugar are numbered from the original carbonyl position on the chain using a number plus the prime symbol (â).
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and certain other organisms transform light energy into chemical energy. Photosynthesis in green plants harnesses the energy of sunlight to convert carbon dioxide, water, and minerals into organic compounds and gaseous oxygen.
All the carbon needed for photosynthesis comes from carbon dioxide. All the hydrogen comes from water. When plants use carbon dioxide and water to make glucose there is a lot of oxygen left over. Here is a word equation: Carbon dioxide and water are inorganic chemicals, whereas glucose is an organic chemical. Plants need energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose; this energy comes from sunlight. Plants can also use artificial light providing that it contains the right frequencies (colours).