Recall that photosynthesis consists of two sets of chemical reactions. which of these describes the energy conversions that occur during the light-dependent reactions? a) light energy to chemical energy b) chemical energy to chemical energy c) chemical energy to mechanical energy d) mechanical energy to mechanical energy

The conversion which occurs during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis is:

a) light energy to chemical energy.

In the light dependent reactions the light energy is used to prepare the two energy rich molecules required for the next step of the photosynthesis. These molecules are the energy carrying molecule ATP and the electron carrying molecule NADPH. The light dependent reactions in plants occur in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast.

The Photosystems I and II contain pigments to absorb the light energy. The net effect of the light dependent reaction is conversion of the light energy to the chemical energy. The ATP and NADPH molecules produced during this phase are used in the next phase called Calvin cycle to produce sugars.