Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] (CO2 Scrubbers) Algae! EEeeeew!

[S W <stephenwhite20@yahoo.com>]

--- "D. Blake" <dblake@bright.net> wrote:
> Whoa, wait a minute.  You mean the algae excite the
> electrons to cause a
> molecular split of the hydrogen and oxygen elements?
>  How so? It would have
> to be through the addition of an extra electron
> which would also release
> explosive hydrogen in addition to O2.  Not funny!
> Big Dave


Im a Biology major and you ask for it...so here goes.
Algae cells contain chloroplasts which are organelles
in which photosynthesis takes place (all plants have
these). There are two sets of reactions in
photosynthesis, the light and dark reactions. In the
light reactions, energy from the sun is used to excite
electrons which are removed from H20 (yielding 02 gas
and two protons [H+]). These excited electrons are
then used to create activated intermediate molecules
which are used in the dark reactions. In the dark
reactions, CO2 is taken out of the air and fixed
(attached) together in a complex pathway called the
Calvin-Benson cycle to form glucose (sugar). You don't
have to worry about H2 leaking out because the
hydrogens leave as protons. This actually is damn
interesting stuff! Check out this web site and read up
on it. It has some very nice pictures to help explain
it all.

http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/bio181/BIOBK/BioBookPS.html#Chlorophyll



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