What is the energy efficiency of photosynthesis?
a) What area is occupied by each molecule?
b) Calculate the molecular absorption cross section in units of A2
A crucial photochemical reaction for life on our planet is photosynthesis, which changes the absorbed light energy into chemical energy. One photon of 680 nm is essential to produce one molecule of ATP. Under physiological conditions, the reaction needs an energy of 59 kJ per mol of ATP.