Why does the process of photosynthesis called by that name?
Photosynthesis occurs only during daylight hours when solar light (photons) are absorbed by the green leaves of a plant. Photon is also part of the word photography (graphing or writing with light). Synthesis means to put together such as a factory that makes synthetic leather out of plastics. Photosynthesis makes green chlorophyll in leaves by using solar photons as a source of energy. All coal, oil, and gas deposits as well as cords of wood used as fuel were derived from solar energy. Solar photons can interact with the electrons that orbit atoms or molecules supplying the tiny amount of energy needed for chemical reactions in living plants.
