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Can we artificially do photosynthesis and get purified oxygen as a product?

Oxygen is one of the products of photosynthesis in plants and algae. The particular step occurs in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Water is split to release electrons, protons (H+), and oxygen. The electrons are then excited by sunlight within photosystem II and then passed along the electron transport chain toward photosystem I in the thylakoid membrane. Along the way, more protons (H+) are pumped to the side of the membrane where the water is...

Oxygen is one of the products of photosynthesis in plants and algae. The particular step occurs in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Water is split to release electrons, protons (H+), and oxygen. The electrons are then excited by sunlight within photosystem II and then passed along the electron transport chain toward photosystem I in the thylakoid membrane. Along the way, more protons (H+) are pumped to the side of the membrane where the water is split, creating a proton gradient. The gradient is used to make ATP to fuel the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis.


If you wanted to synthetically produce oxygen in a manner similar to photosynthesis, you would just need a device to split water into its components: hydrogen and oxygen. You can do this with electricity. You need a power source, an anode and a cathode (each connected to the power source), and salt to be dissolved in the water. The battery/power source will send electrons to the cathode and electrons will move from the anode toward the battery in this electrolytic cell.  


Hydrogen ions (H+) accumulate near the cathode and gain electrons, forming hydrogen gas. Oxygen ions, being negative, accumulate near the anode, give up their electrons, and form oxygen gas. Although the hydrogens are used differently in photosynthesis (to create a H+ gradient), the oxygen that is formed via photosynthesis is also the result of the splitting of water.

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