Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Photosynthesis: Splitting Water

sunderimehta - 18-12-2013 at 20:47

The splitting of water is an endergonic (non-spontaneous) reaction, and thus would require energy (chemical work to be done) in order to happen.

In Photosystem II, the OEC enzyme catalyzes this splitting, but where does it get the energy from? Does it use ATP?

bfesser - 18-12-2013 at 20:51

As I (mis)understand it, the energy comes from absorbed photons.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen-evolving_complex" target="_blank">Oxygen-evolving complex</a> <img src="../scipics/_wiki.png" />