The miracle of photosynthesis

Have you ever walked through the woods and breathed in the air, thinking how fresh and clean it smelled?

It isn't your imagination.

You are breathing brand new oxygen produced by the very trees surrounding you.

How does this happen?

It happens through a truly miraculous process known as photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is the means by which trees and other plants turn sunlight into food.

More specifically; in a series of biochemical processes, the chlorophyll in the tree's foliage captures light energy in the form of photons. These photons react with water and carbon dioxide (collected mainly in the tree's leaves and roots) and are transformed into simple sugars, with oxygen and water as waste products.

The general formula looks like this:

6 CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 12 H20 (water) + photons (light energy) = C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6 O2 (oxygen) + 6 H20 (water).

The tree then transforms the glucose (sugar) into the biochemical fuels needed to continue it's own growth. At the same time it releases excess oxygen into the air through pores in its leaves.

In essence, trees and other plants "inhale" CO2 and "exhale" oxygen, while we humans and other animals do the opposite. We literally couldn't survive without trees.

Next time you're in the woods think about all the trees "breathing" around you and remember that without them we wouldn't have the oxygen we need to breath.

So plant a tree today, then take a deep, satisfying breath and give yourself a pat on the back for helping keep our air fresh.