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Chapter 7: Problem 158

Photosynthesis makes use of photons of visible light to bring about chemical changes. Explain why heat energy in the form of infrared photons is ineffective for photosynthesis. (Hint: Typical chemical bond energies are \(200 \mathrm{~kJ} / \mathrm{mol}\) or greater. \()\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Infrared photons don't have enough energy to make or break the chemical bonds involved in photosynthesis, as they carry lower energy than visible light photons, thus they're ineffective for photosynthesis.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Nature of Heat and Visible Light

First, we need to understand that heat energy, in the form of infrared photons, has a much smaller frequency than visible light photons. In turn, smaller wavelength or lower frequency implies lower energy, according to Planck's equation \(E=hf\), where \(E\) is energy, \(h\) is Planck's constant, and \(f\) is frequency.
02

Understanding Photosynthesis

In photosynthesis, light energy is used by plants to make chemical bonds in creating glucose from carbon dioxide and water. The energy required for this is substantial, corresponding to the energy of visible light.
03

Relating Energy of Photons and Bond Energy

If we relate this to the energy of photons, infrared photons carry less energy than necessary to make or break typical chemical bonds, which are usually around \(200 \, \mathrm{kJ/mol}\) or greater. Thus, they can't provide the required energy for photosynthesis.

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