(mÄth'Än') A colorless, odorless, flammable gas that is the simplest hydrocarbon. It is the major constituent of natural gas and is released during the decomposition of plant or other organic compounds, as in marshes and coal mines. Methane is the first member of the alkane series.
Photosynthesis is the process by which organisms that contain the pigment chlorophyll convert light energy into chemical energy which can be stored in the molecular bonds of organic molecules (e.g., sugars). Photosynthesis powers almost all trophic chains and food webs on the Earth.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and other organisms (i.e. cyanobacteria and algae) convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy. In the process of photosynthesis, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) undergo a series of chemical reactions initiated by light energy to produce glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen gas (O2). As sunlight shines down on plants, water is absorbed by the root system of the plant.