Question

Oxygen is a waste product of photosynthesis. Is this statement correct? Explain.

Answer 1

Yes, the statement is correct from the plant's perspective.

Reason:

The primary objective of photosynthesis is to manufacture carbohydrates (glucose) for the plant's survival. Oxygen gas (O₂) is produced merely as an accidental gaseous by-product during the photolysis of water. Since the plant does not require this massive volume of oxygen for immediate cellular activities, it diffuses out through the stomata into the atmosphere as a waste product.