720 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



In short, for the formation of our starch the water (HoO) from 

 the soil and the COo of the atmosphere, when brought together, 

 may be made to combine with the formation of starch. A single 

 diagram, while not perhaps an absolute statement of fact, may serve 

 to represent the final result: 



{5H?0 = C^'"'A + 120. 



In other words, the six molecules of carbon dioxide and five 

 of water combine with the formation of one molecule of starch and 

 the liberation of twelve atoms of oxygen. 



This driving off of such a large amount of oxygen, entirely 

 against the whole tendency of that element, it is assumed, is at the 

 expenditure of much force. The only one adequate to this work is 

 solar energy, and this is abundantly at hand. That we need not 

 seek further for this power is proved by many and conclusive tests. 

 Vegetable physiologists to-day are able not only to locate the sun 

 as the chemist, that effects the changes necessary for the produc- 



I 



'Crude Sap ^ -. ^ \ j / ^/ 



C a>bo\n| tji 0^ I de 

 Elaborated /Sap- e^'o^ ^ 



Fio. 5. — DiAc.KAMMATii; ViKW OF Til?; Process of J'iidto-Synthesis. 



tion of starch, but can show in what cells and portions of those 

 cells the forces effect the synthesis. The chlorophyll granules in 

 the living cell are the microscopic laboratories in which a silent 

 chemist, powerful beyond all measurements, builds out of inorganic 

 materials the food substance of the whole world of animals and 

 plants. 



