During photosynthesis, oxygen is the gas produced as a byproduct. This process occurs in green plants, algae, and some bacteria, where sunlight is captured by chlorophyll and used to convert carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil into glucose, a sugar that serves as energy for the plant.
As a result of this chemical reaction, oxygen is released into the atmosphere. In essence, the overall equation for photosynthesis can be simplified as:
6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2
This equation highlights that six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water, with the help of light energy, produce one molecule of glucose and six molecules of oxygen. The oxygen released is vital for life on Earth, as it provides the essential component for respiration in most living organisms.