Plant, some bacteria, and protistans are photoautotrophs. Photoautotrophs produce organic compounds by a metabolic process referred to as photosynthesis . Photosynthesis is the main route by which carbon and energy enter the web of life. Before we study the process of photosynthesis, we should first study where this process takes place. In plants, photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts.
Chloroplasts specialize in producing and briefly storing food.
All chloroplasts have two outermost membranes surrounding the stroma, which is a largely fluid interior. The thylakoid, another membrane, weaves through the stroma. The process we are studying starts with energy received from the sun. This energy has radiated across space in a motion which is very similar to ocean waves. The horizontal distance between crests is referred to as a wavelength.