C1.3.1—Light energy → chemical energy
Photosynthesis captures light with pigments and converts it into chemical energy stored temporarily in ATP and ultimately in organic molecules.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Objective
- C1.3.1
- Level
- HL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing2%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceNovember 2018
Most common paperPaper2
Typical marks1–8
Common command terms
- Identify
- State
- Outline
- Describe
- Explain
- Distinguish
Recent exam appearances
November 2018Paper3 ["HL"] · TZ03(b)[ 1 ]C1.3.1—Light energy → chemical energy
November 2016Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ08(a)[ 8 ]C1.3.1—Light energy → chemical energy
Practice this objective
Coverage 2016–2018 · Updated 15 Jul 2026
Concept essentials
- Chlorophyll and other pigments absorb light energy inside chloroplasts.
- Light energy is converted into chemical energy during photosynthesis.
- ATP and reducing power connect light capture to carbon compound formation.
- Photosynthesis produces organic molecules that store usable chemical energy.